Dear John

1. noun A letter or other written communication, especially from a woman to a man, abruptly ending a romantic relationship. Mike was clearly upset when he received a Dear John from his girlfriend, Caroline. He thought their relationship was going well and didn't expect it to end so suddenly. Mail call was usually a happy time in the military barracks, except for the unlucky soldiers who got Dear Johns from their sweethearts back home. I bet that's a Dear John he's holding. Look at his face—he's totally crushed.

2. adjective Used to describe such a written communication. Sarah and I agreed to date long-distance after I moved to Calgary, but I got a Dear John email about a month later telling me that we were through. Don't break up with someone through a Dear John text message. It's just so cowardly and petty. I'm sorry, you just didn't talk to her ever again? Wow, even a lame Dear John text would be more considerate than that.

dear John

A letter or other notification calling off a romantic relationship. The term was born during World War II, when a serviceman stationed overseas received a letter from his girlfriend or wife ending their relationship. After the war it was extended to both genders and used quite loosely, sometimes even for other kinds of rejection.