Definition, Meaning & Synonyms

dear-john

noun

/ˌdɪr ˈdʒɒn/

Definition

A letter or message that ends a romantic relationship.

Examples

After months of silence, she received a dear-john letter that left her heartbroken.
He wrote a dear-john note while stationed overseas, hoping to soften the blow of their breakup.

Meaning

The term is often used to describe a communication in which one partner informs the other that they no longer wish to continue the relationship, typically used when the partner is away and unable to respond immediately.