envelope

noun

en·​ve·​lope ˈen-və-ˌlōp How to pronounce envelope (audio) ˈän- How to pronounce envelope (audio)
1
: a flat usually paper container (as for a letter)
2
: something that envelops : wrapper
the envelope of air around the earth
3
a
: the outer covering of an aerostat
b
: the bag containing the gas in a balloon or airship
4
a
: a natural enclosing covering (such as a membrane, shell, or integument)
b
: a lipoprotein unit membrane that forms the outer layer of some virions
5
a
: a curve tangent to each of a family of curves
b
: a surface tangent to each of a family of surfaces
6
: a set of performance limits (as of an aircraft) that may not be safely exceeded
also : the set of operating parameters that exists within these limits
7
: a conventionally accepted limit
new computers that push the envelope
How do you pronounce envelope?: Usage Guide

The \ˈen-\ and \ˈän-\ pronunciations are used with about equal frequency, and both are fully acceptable, though the \ˈän-\ version is sometimes decried as "pseudo-French." Actually \ˈän-\ is exactly what one would expect to hear when a French word like entrepreneur is becoming anglicized. Envelope, however, has been in English for nearly 300 years, plenty of time for it to become completely anglicized and for both of its pronunciations to win respectability.

Examples of envelope in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Both cards are in envelopes devoid of any postage markings or stamps, which suggests they were sent as part of a larger package. Chris Spargo, People.com, 2 Sep. 2025 In the book is a sketch of a Bitter CD done on the back of a yellow envelope Ruzzin sketched in 1971 while working in Germany at Opel Design for Dave Holls. Jackie Charniga, USA Today, 2 Sep. 2025 Label the envelope with the date and type of zinnia. Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 31 Aug. 2025 The company originally charged by the disc and sent DVDs in striking red envelopes. Lorenzino Estrada, AZCentral.com, 30 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for envelope

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1714, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of envelope was circa 1714

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Envelope.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/envelope. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.

Kids Definition

envelope

noun
en·​ve·​lope ˈen-və-ˌlōp How to pronounce envelope (audio) ˈän- How to pronounce envelope (audio)
1
: a flat usually paper container (as for a letter)
2
: something that envelops
3
: the bag containing the gas in a balloon or airship
4
: a natural enclosing covering (as a membrane)

Medical Definition

envelope

noun
en·​ve·​lope ˈen-və-ˌlōp How to pronounce envelope (audio) ˈän- How to pronounce envelope (audio)
: a natural enclosing covering (as a membrane or integument)
especially : a lipoprotein unit membrane that forms the outer layer of some virions and surrounds the viral capsid
These glycoprotein complexes, swept up by the budding virus as it acquires its envelope, are crucial to HIV's ability to infect new cells. William A. Haseltine et al., Scientific American
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!