dead letter
noun
1
: something that has lost its force or authority without being formally abolished
As a result of such loopholes, the statute became a dead letter.—
William M. McGovern, Jr. et al.
William M. McGovern, Jr. et al.2
: a letter that is undeliverable and unreturnable by the post office
Examples of dead letter in a Sentence
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Agreements meant to last decades became a dead letter.
—Stephania Taladrid, New Yorker, 17 June 2026
The war had sort of declared it dead letter, but not so much in the Constitution.
—David Frum, The Atlantic, 10 June 2026
The War Powers Resolution has been a dead letter for decades.
—Baltimore Sun Staff, Baltimore Sun, 20 May 2026
That amendment had been made a dead letter by Jim Crow state legislatures and an acquiescent Supreme Court.
—Robert D. Bland, The Conversation, 30 Apr. 2026
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Stephania Taladrid, New Yorker, 17 June 2026
The war had sort of declared it dead letter, but not so much in the Constitution.
—David Frum, The Atlantic, 10 June 2026
The War Powers Resolution has been a dead letter for decades.
—Baltimore Sun Staff, Baltimore Sun, 20 May 2026
That amendment had been made a dead letter by Jim Crow state legislatures and an acquiescent Supreme Court.
—Robert D. Bland, The Conversation, 30 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for dead letter
Cite this Entry
“Dead letter.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dead%20letter. Accessed 25 Jun. 2026.
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