junk mail

noun

: unsolicited mail that consists mainly of promotional materials, catalogs, and requests for donations

Examples of junk mail in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Toss junk mail, file important documents, and tackle any actionable items immediately. — Mary Cornetta, Better Homes & Gardens, 21 Sep. 2026

For other types of junk mail or promotional material, the United States Postal Service and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) recommend using the website DMAchoice to remove your name from a lot of the national marketing mail lists. — Cody Godwin, USA Today, 20 July 2026

Older adults are particularly vulnerable to identity theft and other scams and are often advised to ignore junk mail and calls from telemarketers. — Susan Jaffe, NPR, 6 July 2026

Display tall vases on the bottom and some art books on top to offset the growing pile of junk mail that’s taking over the entryway. — Julia Harrison, Architectural Digest, 12 June 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1921, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for junk mail

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

Kids Definition

junk mail

noun

: mail that consists mostly of advertising circulars and is often addressed to "occupant" or "resident"