1
: a symbol usually written or printed representing a speech sound and constituting a unit of an alphabet
2
a
: a direct or personal written or printed message addressed to a person or organization
b
: a written communication containing a grant
—usually used in plural
3
4
: the strict or outward sense or significance
the letter of the law
5
a
: a single piece of type
b
: a style of type
6
: the initial of a school awarded to a student for achievement usually in athletics
lettered; lettering; letters
: to win an athletic letter
Synonyms
Noun (1)
Noun (2)
Examples of letter in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Taylor Gumm, Rolling Stone, 1 Dec. 2023
The public letter is very clear that the time to act is now.
—Dr. Ewelina U. Ochab, Forbes, 30 Nov. 2023
The book does refer to letters between Meghan and Charles, then the Prince of Wales, in which the two discussed the issue, and which Mr. Scobie said resulted in the couple not raising it again.
—Mark Landler, New York Times, 30 Nov. 2023
The students behind the letter denied supporting Hamas and say the backlash has led to a doxxing campaign against students believed to be connected to the letter.
—Kiara Alfonseca, ABC News, 30 Nov. 2023
The new proposal would use the same grading plans for the building pad, states a letter from Alliance to the city.
—Phil Diehl, San Diego Union-Tribune, 30 Nov. 2023
The balloon letters are floating in and out of view behind the background screen outside.
—Mia Sato, The Verge, 30 Nov. 2023
The congressman, a Republican, will send staff members to the Dec. 6 meeting, the letter says.
—Doug Thompson, arkansasonline.com, 29 Nov. 2023
On Tuesday afternoon, the delegation went to the White House and delivered a letter for President Biden signed by the leaders of the Christian community in Bethlehem, including Isaac’s Protestant denomination and his Orthodox, Armenian and Catholic counterparts.
—Ishaan Tharoor, Washington Post, 29 Nov. 2023
Lucas Kwan Peterson, Los Angeles Times, 4 Oct. 2023
Growing up in Gladewater, Tex., Mr. Hamilton lettered in basketball and golf in high school.
—Phil Davison, BostonGlobe.com, 19 Aug. 2023
Brown lettered in three other sports at Syracuse: lacrosse, basketball and track, and was the university’s athlete of the year in 1956-57.
—Scott Patsko, cleveland, 19 May 2023
Robinson lettered in four sports at UCLA before breaking baseball’s color barrier.
—John Marshall, Chicago Tribune, 7 Aug. 2023
Lujack, who hailed from Connellsville, Pennsylvania, was only the third player in Notre Dame history to letter in four sports.
—Victoria Hernandez, USA TODAY, 25 July 2023
Phil Bucklew Bucklew lettered three years on the football team and two years on the basketball team at Xavier in the 1930s.
—Shelby Dermer, The Enquirer, 19 July 2023
Taylor lettered all four years at Copper Hills and put up a career .461 batting average.
—Aaron Falk, The Salt Lake Tribune, 10 July 2023
On the backside is lettered S.S. LUVVY, presumably in honor of Mrs. Thurston Howell.
—Tommy Cummings, Dallas News, 2 June 2023
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Noun
The letter is placed in front of a dictionary page, which is a nice extra touch.
—Taylor Gumm, Rolling Stone, 1 Dec. 2023
The public letter is very clear that the time to act is now.
—Dr. Ewelina U. Ochab, Forbes, 30 Nov. 2023
The book does refer to letters between Meghan and Charles, then the Prince of Wales, in which the two discussed the issue, and which Mr. Scobie said resulted in the couple not raising it again.
—Mark Landler, New York Times, 30 Nov. 2023
The students behind the letter denied supporting Hamas and say the backlash has led to a doxxing campaign against students believed to be connected to the letter.
—Kiara Alfonseca, ABC News, 30 Nov. 2023
The new proposal would use the same grading plans for the building pad, states a letter from Alliance to the city.
—Phil Diehl, San Diego Union-Tribune, 30 Nov. 2023
The balloon letters are floating in and out of view behind the background screen outside.
—Mia Sato, The Verge, 30 Nov. 2023
The congressman, a Republican, will send staff members to the Dec. 6 meeting, the letter says.
—Doug Thompson, arkansasonline.com, 29 Nov. 2023
On Tuesday afternoon, the delegation went to the White House and delivered a letter for President Biden signed by the leaders of the Christian community in Bethlehem, including Isaac’s Protestant denomination and his Orthodox, Armenian and Catholic counterparts.
—Ishaan Tharoor, Washington Post, 29 Nov. 2023
Verb
At Food Spot, they’re displayed in that style, but with the description lettered above in white, on a blue background.
—Lucas Kwan Peterson, Los Angeles Times, 4 Oct. 2023
Growing up in Gladewater, Tex., Mr. Hamilton lettered in basketball and golf in high school.
—Phil Davison, BostonGlobe.com, 19 Aug. 2023
Brown lettered in three other sports at Syracuse: lacrosse, basketball and track, and was the university’s athlete of the year in 1956-57.
—Scott Patsko, cleveland, 19 May 2023
Robinson lettered in four sports at UCLA before breaking baseball’s color barrier.
—John Marshall, Chicago Tribune, 7 Aug. 2023
Lujack, who hailed from Connellsville, Pennsylvania, was only the third player in Notre Dame history to letter in four sports.
—Victoria Hernandez, USA TODAY, 25 July 2023
Phil Bucklew Bucklew lettered three years on the football team and two years on the basketball team at Xavier in the 1930s.
—Shelby Dermer, The Enquirer, 19 July 2023
Taylor lettered all four years at Copper Hills and put up a career .461 batting average.
—Aaron Falk, The Salt Lake Tribune, 10 July 2023
On the backside is lettered S.S. LUVVY, presumably in honor of Mrs. Thurston Howell.
—Tommy Cummings, Dallas News, 2 June 2023
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These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'letter.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Etymology
Noun (1)
Middle English, from Anglo-French lettre, from Latin littera letter of the alphabet, litterae, plural, epistle, literature
First Known Use
Noun (1)
13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Verb
1504, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1
Noun (2)
1552, in the meaning defined above
Time Traveler
The first known use of letter was
in the 13th century
Phrases Containing letter
Articles Related to letter
Dictionary Entries Near letter
Cite this Entry
“Letter.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/letter. Accessed 10 Dec. 2023.
Copy Citation
Kids Definition
letter
1 of 2 noun
let·ter
ˈlet-ər 
1
: one of the marks that are symbols for speech sounds in writing or print and that make up the alphabet
2
: a written or printed communication
3
plural
: literature sense 2a
4
: the strict or outward meaning
the letter of the law
5
: the initial of a school awarded to a student especially for athletic achievement
Legal Definition
letter
noun
let·ter
1
: a direct written statement addressed to an individual or organization
broadly
: an official communication see also counterletter
—
Crummey letter
\
ˈkrə-mē
\
: a letter from the trustee of a Crummey trust notifying the beneficiary of his or her right to withdraw funds for a given time
—
determination letter
: a letter from an administrative agency (as the Internal Revenue Service) usually in response to a request in which a determination, decision, or ruling is made
—
information letter
: a letter from an administrative agency usually in response to a request that provides information and especially that simply calls attention to an interpretation or principle of law
—
letter of intent
: a letter in which the intention to enter into a formal agreement (as a contract) or to take some specified action is stated
—
letter rogatory
\
-ˈrō-gə-ˌtȯr-ē
\
probably partial translation of Medieval Latin littera rogatoria letter of request
: a formal written request by a court to a court in a foreign jurisdiction to summon and examine a witness in accordance with that jurisdiction's procedures (as oral interrogatories)
—usually used in pl.
—
90-day letter
: a letter from the Internal Revenue Service notifying a taxpayer of a determination of a deficiency
Note: A taxpayer has 90 days from the date of the mailing of the 90-day letter to petition for a redetermination of the deficiency in the U.S. Tax Court.
—
no-action letter
: a letter from an attorney for the Securities and Exchange Commission recommending that the Commission take no prosecutorial action with regard to a suspected and investigated violation of SEC rules or regulations
—
opinion letter
: a letter in which an opinion (as of a court or attorney) is given
—
ruling letter
: determination letter in this entry
—
30-day letter
: a letter from the Internal Revenue Service to a taxpayer who has been audited and disputes the auditor's determination that sets out the taxpayer's right to appeal
Note: A taxpayer has 30 days from the time of the mailing of the 30-day letter to respond.
2
: a written communication usually from a court containing a grant (as of a right) or an appointment
—usually used in pl.
—
letter of marque
\
-ˈmärk
\
Anglo-French mark, marque right of retaliation, from Middle French marque, from Old Provençal marca, from marcar to mark, seize as pledge
: a letter from a government formerly used to grant a private person the power to seize the subjects of a foreign state
specifically
: authority granted to a private person to fit out an armed ship to plunder the enemy
—usually used in pl. —often used in the phrase letters of marque and reprisal
the Congress shall have power…to declare war, grant letters of marque and reprisal, and make rules concerning captures on land and water —U.S. Constitution art. I
U.S. Constitution art. I
—
letters of administration
: a letter from a probate court that appoints the addressee administrator of an estate
—
letters patent
: a letter (as from a government) that grants a designated person a right (as to property) and that is in a form open for public inspection : patent
—
letters testamentary
: a letter from a probate court that appoints or confirms the executor of an estate
3
More from Merriam-Webster on letter
Nglish: Translation of letter for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of letter for Arabic Speakers
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