envelope

noun en·ve·lope \ ˈen-və-ˌlōp , ˈän- \

Updated on: 12 Apr 2018

Definition of envelope

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

See envelope defined for English-language learners

See envelope defined for kids

How do you pronounce envelope?

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.

Recent Examples of envelope from the Web

Fundraiser tickets were distributed to employees in envelopes with an individual’s name on it, according to Taylor, and money for those tickets was either returned to a supervisor or directly to the trustee’s office.

— craig lyons, Post-Tribune, "Testimony at trial for Calumet Township employees shows campaigning became routine part of government work," 6 Apr. 2018
All four parts have 128MB of level 4 cache, all have a 28W power envelope, and all have their graphics branded as Iris Plus Graphics 655.

— peter bright, Ars Technica, "Intel bumps up mobile chips to 6 cores in expanded 8th-generation line-up," 3 Apr. 2018
This year, there might be a little something extra in those envelopes.

— anna m. tinsley, star-telegram, "Want $100? Check your mail. It might be there waiting for you | Fort Worth Star-Telegram," 28 Mar. 2018
Instead, get yourself a 3x5 notecard, an envelope, and a stamp.

— devra first, BostonGlobe.com, "Popular Maine restaurant the Lost Kitchen now takes reservations only by snail mail," 19 Mar. 2018
Your envelope and ballot will be processed, verified and scanned, and then shredded 30 days after the election.

— paul jenkins, Anchorage Daily News, "Anchorage is about to launch its first vote-by-mail campaign. Count me skeptical.," 11 Mar. 2018
Anyone who watched the Eagles over the last two years saw that Pederson liked to fly outside the envelope and not just on fourth down.

— jeff mclane, Philly.com, "Doug Pederson's aggressiveness likely to be copied by other NFL coaches | Jeff McLane," 2 Mar. 2018
To maintain the proper balance, the center of gravity must be within the envelope and the airplane is loaded with passengers, cargo and fuel accordingly.

— john cox, USA TODAY, "Ask the Captain: Is more seats on one side of the aisle a balance issue?," 18 Feb. 2018
Vanessa and two others were taken to the hospital as a precaution after opening the envelope, but New York police have said the white powder was nonhazardous.

— lisa ryan, The Cut, "Suspicious Letter Sent to Donald Trump Jr. Calls Him the ‘Family Idiot’," 13 Feb. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'envelope.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of envelope

circa 1714

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

NEW! Time Traveler

Other Paper Terms

folio, palimpsest, quire, ream

ENVELOPE Defined for English Language Learners

envelope

noun

Definition of envelope for English Language Learners

: an enclosing cover for a letter, card, etc.

ENVELOPE Defined for Kids

envelope

noun en·ve·lope \ ˈen-və-ˌlōp , ˈän- \

Definition of envelope for Students

: a flat usually paper container (as for a letter)

Medical Dictionary

envelope

noun en·ve·lope \ ˈen-və-ˌlōp , ˈän- \

medical Definition of envelope

: 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, October 1988