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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While Chicago is at no imminent risk of instituting Johnson’s jobs tax following the City Council’s adamant rejection, Springfield ought to make the possibility of a later revival of that policy a dead letter.
—The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 7 Apr. 2026
Put another way, ICE’s new interpretation turns the statute into a dead letter.
—Noah Feldman, Twin Cities, 6 Feb. 2026
Put another way, ICE’s new interpretation turns the statute into a dead letter.
—Noah Feldman, Mercury News, 4 Feb. 2026
That amendment had been made a dead letter by Jim Crow state legislatures and an acquiescent Supreme Court.
—Robert D. Bland, The Conversation, 3 Feb. 2026
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The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 7 Apr. 2026
Put another way, ICE’s new interpretation turns the statute into a dead letter.
—Noah Feldman, Twin Cities, 6 Feb. 2026
Put another way, ICE’s new interpretation turns the statute into a dead letter.
—Noah Feldman, Mercury News, 4 Feb. 2026
That amendment had been made a dead letter by Jim Crow state legislatures and an acquiescent Supreme Court.
—Robert D. Bland, The Conversation, 3 Feb. 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 14 Apr. 2026.
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