1
: a symbol usually written or printed representing a speech sound and constituting a unit of an alphabet
2
a
: a direct or personal written or printed message addressed to a person or organization
b
: a written communication containing a grant
—usually used in plural
3
4
: the strict or outward sense or significance
the letter of the law
5
a
: a single piece of type
b
: a style of type
6
: the initial of a school awarded to a student for achievement usually in athletics
lettered; lettering; letters
: to win an athletic letter
Synonyms
Noun (1)
Noun (2)
Examples of letter in a Sentence
Noun (1)
he faithfully wrote her a letter every week they were apart
Noun (2)
it is the letter of the apartment—not the lessee—who is responsible for basic repair and upkeep
Recent Examples on the Web
Neda Ulaby, NPR, 24 May 2024
The motion came three days after Council President Paul Krekorian sent a letter to his colleagues disclosing his plan to step down from the leadership post on Sept. 20.
—David Zahniser, Los Angeles Times, 24 May 2024
Earlier this month, Bailey sent a letter to the U.S. Department of Justice demanding documents and other information related to the prosecutions of Trump.
—Jonathan Shorman, Kansas City Star, 24 May 2024
An American Airlines employment verification letter circulated online, shows that the starting salary for flight attendants is just around $27,000, raising eyebrows about how workers are being compensated.
—Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 23 May 2024
Today, May 22, our company has formally submitted a letter of complaint against Hee Jin Min for obstruction of business and defamation.
—Jeff Benjamin, Billboard, 22 May 2024
Paint a papier-mâché letter (available at crafts stores) using acrylic paint in your favorite spring color.
—Sarah Martens, Better Homes & Gardens, 23 May 2024
Officials at the Fort Worth K-12 private school didn’t specify what the behavior was in a letter sent to parents Tuesday.
—Harriet Ramos, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 23 May 2024
In the letter, Todd Steggerda, counsel to the Republican National Committee, said that the Secret Service is ignoring their concerns and multiple attempts of outreach about adjusting the security perimeter.
—Kelsey Walsh, ABC News, 23 May 2024
Eddie Brown, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Apr. 2024
Rounds 4-5 BONUS: Dominick Puni (Sr., Kansas, 6-5, 313)
A no-star recruit, Puni also lettered in volleyball all four years and joined the track team as a senior in high school.
—Eddie Brown, San Diego Union-Tribune, 16 Apr. 2024
Scott lettered from 2012 to 2014 and qualified for the NCAA championships in 2014; Seth lettered from 2015 to 17.
—Journal Sentinel, 26 Jan. 2024
His father, Ralph, wrestled for UW, lettered from 1985 to 1987 and qualified for the NCAA championships twice.
—Journal Sentinel, 26 Jan. 2024
Besides football, Floyd lettered in basketball and track and field in high school.
—Christopher Kuhagen, Journal Sentinel, 17 Jan. 2024
Gilbert returned to Bakersfield College, then transferred to SJSU where lettered for football for two years and was named team captain his senior year.
—Nathan Canilao, The Mercury News, 13 Jan. 2024
Viral post leads to letter Florida education officials zeroed in on the issue of permission slips after Walter’s post on X garnered about 13 million views, 16,000 likes and nearly 4,000 reposts — and sparked ire among state officials.
—Jimena Tavel, Miami Herald, 15 Feb. 2024
Ewers was introduced by fellow Southlake resident County Judge Tim O’Hare, who lettered for the Longhorns in 1989.
—Noah Alcala Bach, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 23 Jan. 2024
Noun
As a result of the letter, Spurlock resigned from his production company, and both YouTube and Sundance decided against showing his documentary about the corporate takeover of family farms, called Super Size Me 2: Holy Chicken.
—Neda Ulaby, NPR, 24 May 2024
The motion came three days after Council President Paul Krekorian sent a letter to his colleagues disclosing his plan to step down from the leadership post on Sept. 20.
—David Zahniser, Los Angeles Times, 24 May 2024
Earlier this month, Bailey sent a letter to the U.S. Department of Justice demanding documents and other information related to the prosecutions of Trump.
—Jonathan Shorman, Kansas City Star, 24 May 2024
An American Airlines employment verification letter circulated online, shows that the starting salary for flight attendants is just around $27,000, raising eyebrows about how workers are being compensated.
—Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 23 May 2024
Today, May 22, our company has formally submitted a letter of complaint against Hee Jin Min for obstruction of business and defamation.
—Jeff Benjamin, Billboard, 22 May 2024
Paint a papier-mâché letter (available at crafts stores) using acrylic paint in your favorite spring color.
—Sarah Martens, Better Homes & Gardens, 23 May 2024
Officials at the Fort Worth K-12 private school didn’t specify what the behavior was in a letter sent to parents Tuesday.
—Harriet Ramos, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 23 May 2024
In the letter, Todd Steggerda, counsel to the Republican National Committee, said that the Secret Service is ignoring their concerns and multiple attempts of outreach about adjusting the security perimeter.
—Kelsey Walsh, ABC News, 23 May 2024
Verb
The former four-star recruit lettered in football, baseball, basketball and track, quarterbacking his high school to back-to-back undefeated state titles (the only ones in school history) while personally winning state championships in the 100 meters and long jump his senior year.
—Eddie Brown, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Apr. 2024
Rounds 4-5 BONUS: Dominick Puni (Sr., Kansas, 6-5, 313)
A no-star recruit, Puni also lettered in volleyball all four years and joined the track team as a senior in high school.
—Eddie Brown, San Diego Union-Tribune, 16 Apr. 2024
Scott lettered from 2012 to 2014 and qualified for the NCAA championships in 2014; Seth lettered from 2015 to 17.
—Journal Sentinel, 26 Jan. 2024
His father, Ralph, wrestled for UW, lettered from 1985 to 1987 and qualified for the NCAA championships twice.
—Journal Sentinel, 26 Jan. 2024
Besides football, Floyd lettered in basketball and track and field in high school.
—Christopher Kuhagen, Journal Sentinel, 17 Jan. 2024
Gilbert returned to Bakersfield College, then transferred to SJSU where lettered for football for two years and was named team captain his senior year.
—Nathan Canilao, The Mercury News, 13 Jan. 2024
Viral post leads to letter Florida education officials zeroed in on the issue of permission slips after Walter’s post on X garnered about 13 million views, 16,000 likes and nearly 4,000 reposts — and sparked ire among state officials.
—Jimena Tavel, Miami Herald, 15 Feb. 2024
Ewers was introduced by fellow Southlake resident County Judge Tim O’Hare, who lettered for the Longhorns in 1989.
—Noah Alcala Bach, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 23 Jan. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'letter.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Articles Related to letter
Dictionary Entries Near letter
Cite this Entry
“Letter.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/letter. Accessed 27 May. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
letter
1 of 2 noun
let·ter
ˈlet-ər 
1
: one of the marks that are symbols for speech sounds in writing or print and that make up the alphabet
2
: a written or printed communication
3
plural
: literature sense 2a
4
: the strict or outward meaning
the letter of the law
5
: the initial of a school awarded to a student especially for athletic achievement
Legal Definition
letter
noun
let·ter
1
: a direct written statement addressed to an individual or organization
broadly
: an official communication see also counterletter
—
Crummey letter
\
ˈkrə-mē
\
: a letter from the trustee of a Crummey trust notifying the beneficiary of his or her right to withdraw funds for a given time
—
determination letter
: a letter from an administrative agency (as the Internal Revenue Service) usually in response to a request in which a determination, decision, or ruling is made
—
information letter
: a letter from an administrative agency usually in response to a request that provides information and especially that simply calls attention to an interpretation or principle of law
—
letter of intent
: a letter in which the intention to enter into a formal agreement (as a contract) or to take some specified action is stated
—
letter rogatory
\
-ˈrō-gə-ˌtȯr-ē
\
probably partial translation of Medieval Latin littera rogatoria letter of request
: a formal written request by a court to a court in a foreign jurisdiction to summon and examine a witness in accordance with that jurisdiction's procedures (as oral interrogatories)
—usually used in pl.
—
90-day letter
: a letter from the Internal Revenue Service notifying a taxpayer of a determination of a deficiency
Note: A taxpayer has 90 days from the date of the mailing of the 90-day letter to petition for a redetermination of the deficiency in the U.S. Tax Court.
—
no-action letter
: a letter from an attorney for the Securities and Exchange Commission recommending that the Commission take no prosecutorial action with regard to a suspected and investigated violation of SEC rules or regulations
—
opinion letter
: a letter in which an opinion (as of a court or attorney) is given
—
ruling letter
: determination letter in this entry
—
30-day letter
: a letter from the Internal Revenue Service to a taxpayer who has been audited and disputes the auditor's determination that sets out the taxpayer's right to appeal
Note: A taxpayer has 30 days from the time of the mailing of the 30-day letter to respond.
2
: a written communication usually from a court containing a grant (as of a right) or an appointment
—usually used in pl.
—
letter of marque
\
-ˈmärk
\
Anglo-French mark, marque right of retaliation, from Middle French marque, from Old Provençal marca, from marcar to mark, seize as pledge
: a letter from a government formerly used to grant a private person the power to seize the subjects of a foreign state
specifically
: authority granted to a private person to fit out an armed ship to plunder the enemy
—usually used in pl. —often used in the phrase letters of marque and reprisal
the Congress shall have power…to declare war, grant letters of marque and reprisal, and make rules concerning captures on land and water —U.S. Constitution art. I
U.S. Constitution art. I
—
letters of administration
: a letter from a probate court that appoints the addressee administrator of an estate
—
letters patent
: a letter (as from a government) that grants a designated person a right (as to property) and that is in a form open for public inspection : patent
—
letters testamentary
: a letter from a probate court that appoints or confirms the executor of an estate
3
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