dirty bomb

American  

noun

1. a nuclear warhead designed to produce a great amount of radioactive debris by use of a fusion core, fission trigger, and casing of uranium-238.

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dirty bomb British  

noun

1. informal a bomb made from nuclear waste combined with conventional explosives that is capable of spreading radioactive material over a very wide area

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Example Sentences

This would be similar to the detonation of a "dirty bomb," which, depending on wind direction and dispersion radius, could result in radioactive contamination.

From Salon • Jun. 7, 2023

In 1998, Chechnya's intelligence service found and defused a dirty bomb that had been placed near a railway line in Chechnya.

From BBC • May 16, 2023

A dirty bomb uses conventional explosives to detonate a cache of radioactive material with the aim of spreading radioactive contamination.

From Washington Post • Oct. 26, 2022

He said that while the U.S. takes Russia’s threats seriously, officials have seen no indications that the Kremlin is preparing to use a dirty bomb themselves or detonate a tactical nuclear weapon in Ukraine.

From Washington Times • Oct. 26, 2022

While officials say a dirty bomb would be a tragic escalation, their clear concern is what it could portend.

From New York Times • Oct. 25, 2022