noun
letter breaking off relations; Dear John letter
A formal or final letter ending a personal relationship, friendship, or association. Often used for romantic breakups but can apply to any severed ties.
彼女から突然絶交状が届いた。
I suddenly received a Dear John letter from my girlfriend.
友人に絶交状を送るのは辛い。
It's painful to send a letter breaking off relations to a friend.
手紙 is a general letter, while 絶交状 specifically refers to a letter ending a relationship.
Compound of 絶交 (breaking off relations) and 状 (letter, document).