letter bomb: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Low-frequency/NewsFormal, Journalistic, Law Enforcement, Official Reports
Quick answer
What does “letter bomb” mean?
A concealed explosive device sent via postal mail, designed to injure or kill the recipient when opened.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A concealed explosive device sent via postal mail, designed to injure or kill the recipient when opened.
An explosive or incendiary device disguised as a letter or package; used as a tool for terrorism or targeted attacks. By metaphorical extension, sometimes refers to a communication (e.g., a legal letter) that has severe, explosive consequences.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The term is identical in form and core meaning. Spelling may follow local conventions (e.g., 'postal' vs. 'mail' in collocations).
Connotations
Associated with historical and modern terrorism, political violence, and targeted harassment. Carries the same high degree of seriousness and danger in both dialects.
Frequency
Appears with comparable low frequency in both UK and US news/media, spiking in coverage of specific incidents.
Grammar
How to Use “letter bomb” in a Sentence
Someone sent a letter bomb to [target/person/address].The police defused a letter bomb.[Target] was injured by a letter bomb.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “letter bomb” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The extremist group was known to letter-bomb political figures.
- He was convicted for attempting to letter-bomb a journalist.
American English
- The anarchist cell planned to letter-bomb several corporate offices.
- Authorities believe the suspect letter-bombed his own business for insurance.
adverb
British English
- N/A. The term is not used as an adverb.
American English
- N/A. The term is not used as an adverb.
adjective
British English
- The letter-bomb campaign caused nationwide panic.
- A letter-bomb threat was found in the mailroom.
American English
- The FBI issued a letter-bomb warning to several universities.
- They are experts in letter-bomb forensics.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Extremely rare. Only relevant in security briefings or crisis management scenarios.
Academic
Used in political science, criminology, or history papers discussing terrorism and asymmetric warfare.
Everyday
Almost never used in casual conversation unless discussing a news story.
Technical
Used in forensic, law enforcement, and counter-terrorism contexts with precise specifications (construction, triggering mechanism).
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “letter bomb”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “letter bomb”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “letter bomb”
- Using 'letter bomb' to mean a strongly worded letter (this is a 'poison pen letter').
- Confusing 'letter bomb' with 'parcel bomb' (though they are closely related subtypes).
- Incorrect stress: it's a compound with primary stress on 'letter' and secondary on 'bomb' (LETTER bomb).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is typically written as two separate words ('letter bomb') or, less commonly, hyphenated ('letter-bomb'), especially when used as a verb or adjective.
Yes, though it is less common than the noun form. It means 'to send a letter bomb to (someone)'.
A 'letter bomb' is typically an explosive device concealed within an envelope or a small postal item resembling a standard letter. A 'parcel bomb' is concealed within a larger package or box. The terms are often used interchangeably in news reports, but technically they differ by size and postal category.
While creatively understood, it is non-standard and potentially confusing. The primary and almost exclusive meaning is literal. For a shocking email, terms like 'explosive email', 'bombshell message', or 'poison-pen email' are more appropriate.
A concealed explosive device sent via postal mail, designed to injure or kill the recipient when opened.
Letter bomb is usually formal, journalistic, law enforcement, official reports in register.
Letter bomb: in British English it is pronounced /ˈletə bɒm/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈlɛtər bɑːm/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “None directly; the term itself is a specific referent.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a LETTER that explodes like a BOMB when you open it. The surprise and danger are literally in the mail.
Conceptual Metaphor
COMMUNICATION IS A WEAPON / A CONTAINER OF DANGER.
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the term 'letter bomb' LEAST likely to be used accurately?