email

1 of 2

noun

ˈē-ˌmāl 

variants or e-mail

1

: a means or system for transmitting messages electronically (as between computers on a network)

communicating by email

2

a

: messages sent and received electronically through an email system

receives a lot of email

b

plural emails or e-mails : an email message

sent him an email

email

2 of 2

verb

variants or e-mail

emailed or e-mailed; emailing or e-mailing; emails or e-mails

transitive verb

1

: to send email to (someone)

She emailed her mom.

2

: to send (something) by email

I'll email the documents tomorrow.

intransitive verb

: to communicate by email

As I write this, a colleague who takes an amateur interest in tracking the weather emailed to say it would be "among the hottest days of 2019 so far, if not #1."

—Nina Metz

Examples of email in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

In a September email, parent Catherine Feeley asked CMS about reported leaks in a classroom and the library, visible dark spots on vents and the locations where environmental samples were collected. — Charlotte Observer, 13 Nov. 2026

When the reporter sought those emails under the Freedom of Information Act, Hudson and Justice Karen Baker took the position that none of the records were public. — Arkansas Online, 13 Nov. 2026

Verb

Traum said that people interested in adopting or fostering a kitten or cat can reach out to the Dixon SOCKS Facebook page, or email them. — CBS News, 8 Nov. 2026

After initially declining to comment on the talks, Meieran later emailed a statement. — Todd Martens, Los Angeles Times, 6 Nov. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun

electronic mail

First Known Use

Noun

1979, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1983, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Phrases Containing email

• junk email

Rhymes for email

• airmail
• assail
• avail
• bewail
• blackmail
• cattail
• cocktail
• curtail
• derail
• detail
• dovetail
• entail

Kids Definition

email

noun

variants or e-mail

ˈē-ˌmāl 

1

: a system for sending messages between computers

2

a

: messages sent through an email system

receives a lot of email

b

: an email message

sent him an email

email verb

or e-mail

emailer

-ˌmāl-ər

noun

or e-mailer