dirty bomb: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1/C2Technical / Journalistic / Political
Quick answer
What does “dirty bomb” mean?
A conventional explosive device that has been combined with radioactive material, designed to scatter dangerous contamination over an area.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A conventional explosive device that has been combined with radioactive material, designed to scatter dangerous contamination over an area.
A hybrid weapon causing both immediate explosive damage and long-term radioactive contamination; metaphorically, any action or situation that creates a complex, harmful, and difficult-to-clean-up mess.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant lexical or definitional differences. Spelling remains consistent.
Connotations
Identical serious, threatening connotations related to terrorism and WMDs.
Frequency
Comparably low frequency in both dialects, appearing almost exclusively in security, military, and news contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “dirty bomb” in a Sentence
VERB + dirty bomb: build, construct, detonate, deploy, feardirty bomb + VERB: contaminates, spreads, explodesADJECTIVE + dirty bomb: radiological, potential, improvisedVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “dirty bomb” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The terrorists planned to dirty bomb the financial district.
American English
- Intelligence suggests the cell may attempt to dirty-bomb a major port city.
adverb
British English
- N/A
American English
- N/A
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. Possibly metaphorical: 'The hostile takeover bid was a dirty bomb for market stability.'
Academic
Used in political science, security studies, and physics papers discussing asymmetric threats or radiological hazards.
Everyday
Very rare outside of news discussions about terrorism or war.
Technical
Precise term in counter-terrorism, hazard response, and military strategy documents.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “dirty bomb”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “dirty bomb”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “dirty bomb”
- Confusing it with a nuclear (fission/fusion) weapon. A dirty bomb uses conventional explosives to spread radioactivity; it does not create a nuclear chain reaction.
- Using it too casually as a synonym for 'messy situation' outside of metaphorical extension.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. An atomic bomb (nuclear weapon) creates energy through nuclear fission/fusion. A dirty bomb is a conventional explosive that spreads radioactive material as contamination.
Its main purpose is to cause terror, economic disruption, and long-term area denial through radioactive contamination, rather than causing massive immediate destruction from a blast.
Yes, in political or business journalism, it can metaphorically describe an action or revelation that causes widespread damage and a complex, lingering problem.
Yes, it is a standard term in security, military, and emergency response contexts, synonymous with the more formal 'Radiological Dispersal Device (RDD)'.
A conventional explosive device that has been combined with radioactive material, designed to scatter dangerous contamination over an area.
Dirty bomb: in British English it is pronounced /ˌdɜː.ti ˈbɒm/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌdɝː.t̬i ˈbɑːm/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “It's not a nuclear bomb, but a dirty bomb would still cause chaos.”
- “The scandal was a political dirty bomb for the administration.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a bomb that doesn't just blow things up, but also leaves a 'dirty' (radioactive) stain on the area, making it unsafe long after the explosion.
Conceptual Metaphor
CONTAMINATION IS DIRT / COMPLEX PROBLEMS ARE EXPLOSIVE DEVICES.
Practice
Quiz
What is the defining characteristic of a dirty bomb?