Definition, Meaning & Synonyms

dear-john-letter

noun

/ˈdɪr dʒɒn ˈlɛtər/

Definition

A letter written to a person, typically a romantic partner, to end a relationship.

Examples

After months of uncertainty, she finally wrote him a dear john letter, explaining her feelings.
Receiving a dear john letter can be a painful experience for anyone in a relationship.
He dreaded the thought of having to write a dear john letter, but he knew it was necessary.

Meaning

A dear john letter serves as a polite and formal way to communicate the end of a romantic relationship, usually indicating that the sender has found someone else or has decided they no longer want to continue the relationship.