letter bomb

American

noun

an envelope containing an explosive device designed to detonate when the envelope is opened by the recipient.

letter bomb British

noun

a thin explosive device inside an envelope, detonated when the envelope is opened

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of letter bomb

First recorded in 1945–50

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Never mind a letter bomb, what about a stinkbomb that is also a letter?

From Salon

Three bombs were planted and a letter bomb was sent through the post alongside a succession of encrypted emails demanding payment in the virtual cryptocurrency Bitcoin.

From BBC

On Monday, New York police said they had safely destroyed a suspected letter bomb sent to Mr Soros's home.

From BBC

New York police say they have safely destroyed a suspected letter bomb found at the home of billionaire businessman George Soros in New York state.

From BBC

Prosecutor Eva Wintzell says the man, who was not identified, faces attempted murder charges over the letter bomb mailed to an unnamed company in Britain.

From Seattle Times

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023