Dear John

noun, Informal.
1.
a letter from a woman informing her boyfriend or fiancé that she is ending their relationship or informing her husband that she wants a divorce:
Nothing is worse for a soldier's morale than getting a Dear John.
2.
any letter terminating a relationship.
Also called Dear John letter.
Origin
1940-45
British Dictionary definitions for dear john letter

Dear John letter

noun
1.
(informal) a letter from someone (esp to a man) breaking off a love affair
Contemporary definitions for dear john letter
noun

a letter from a woman to a man terminating a personal relationship, esp. to a man at a distance; also called Dear John

Slang definitions & phrases for dear john letter

Dear John

modifier

: Dear-John letter

noun phrase

A letter or other means of informing a fiance´, spouse, boyfriend, etc, that one is breaking off the relationship (fr WWII armed forces)