often attributive
1
a
: material (such as letters and packages) sent or carried in a postal system
sorting through the mail
also
: similar material distributed within an organization
interoffice mail
b
c
: a conveyance that transports mail
2
: a nation's postal system
a letter sent through the mail
—often used in pluralpackages sent through the mails
1
: armor made of metal links or sometimes plates
2
: a hard enclosing covering of an animal (such as a tortoise)
Synonyms
Examples of mail in a Sentence
Verb
if you don't mail that letter soon, it's going to arrive late
Recent Examples on the Web
Nate Gartrell, The Mercury News, 9 Apr. 2024
There are several modern designs and fonts available for instantly upgrading your outgoing mail.
—Michelle Rostamian, Peoplemag, 6 Apr. 2024
Walmart shoppers can file a claim online or via mail, postmarked, on or before June 5, 2024.
—Parija Kavilanz, CNN, 5 Apr. 2024
Officials estimate that citizens have saved roughly five workdays a year from the digital signature alone – that’s from not having to go stand in line at a government office, request a document by mail, or file taxes by paper.
—Lenora Chu, The Christian Science Monitor, 2 Apr. 2024
The postal service said the move to switch carriers to UPS should help improve efficiency of mail transportation as well as reduce overall transportation costs, specifically airfreight costs.
—Olivia Evans, The Courier-Journal, 1 Apr. 2024
The case contests decisions by the Food and Drug Administration to make the drug mifepristone available by mail and via telemedicine.
—Noah Feldman, The Mercury News, 30 Mar. 2024
Netflix Netflix’s journey began in 1997 as a DVD rental service through mail, an innovative solution at a time when the dominant player was Blockbuster’s brick-and-mortar rental stores.
—Abdo Riani, Forbes, 29 Mar. 2024
Post offices will be closed Sunday, March 31, with no mail delivery or retail services, per USA TODAY.
—Haadiza Ogwude, The Enquirer, 29 Mar. 2024
Steven Martinez, Journal Sentinel, 3 Apr. 2024
Claim forms can also be printed and mailed, according to administrators.
—Tanasia Kenney, Miami Herald, 3 Apr. 2024
The deceased woman had purchased the ointment on Facebook, and it was mailed to the U.S. by a relative in Vietnam, the agency stated in a news release.
—Kate Gibson, CBS News, 3 Apr. 2024
Interim recall letters highlighting the safety risks are expected to be mailed out on March 27.
—USA TODAY, 1 Apr. 2024
The two agreed to keep in touch over email, but before that promise could materialize, Passaro mailed Hall a handwritten letter from Miami.
—Maham Javaid, Washington Post, 28 Mar. 2024
Chadwick currently is the CFO of the shipping and mailing company Pitney Bowes and will stay on as advisor until April 21, with John Witek appointed interim CFO.
—Sheryl Estrada, Fortune, 22 Mar. 2024
Hyundai will mail out owner notification letters on May 14, 2024, but owners can also call the manufacturer's customer service line at 1-855-371-9460.
—Sarah Al-Arshani, USA TODAY, 21 Mar. 2024
Two days later, Paul mailed the eagle feather set from near the reservation to Texas.
—Ben Brasch, Washington Post, 20 Mar. 2024
Noun
The four defendants — three women and a man — were charged with a mix of retail theft, identity theft and mail theft charges, including multiple felony and misdemeanor counts.
—Nate Gartrell, The Mercury News, 9 Apr. 2024
There are several modern designs and fonts available for instantly upgrading your outgoing mail.
—Michelle Rostamian, Peoplemag, 6 Apr. 2024
Walmart shoppers can file a claim online or via mail, postmarked, on or before June 5, 2024.
—Parija Kavilanz, CNN, 5 Apr. 2024
Officials estimate that citizens have saved roughly five workdays a year from the digital signature alone – that’s from not having to go stand in line at a government office, request a document by mail, or file taxes by paper.
—Lenora Chu, The Christian Science Monitor, 2 Apr. 2024
The postal service said the move to switch carriers to UPS should help improve efficiency of mail transportation as well as reduce overall transportation costs, specifically airfreight costs.
—Olivia Evans, The Courier-Journal, 1 Apr. 2024
The case contests decisions by the Food and Drug Administration to make the drug mifepristone available by mail and via telemedicine.
—Noah Feldman, The Mercury News, 30 Mar. 2024
Netflix Netflix’s journey began in 1997 as a DVD rental service through mail, an innovative solution at a time when the dominant player was Blockbuster’s brick-and-mortar rental stores.
—Abdo Riani, Forbes, 29 Mar. 2024
Post offices will be closed Sunday, March 31, with no mail delivery or retail services, per USA TODAY.
—Haadiza Ogwude, The Enquirer, 29 Mar. 2024
Verb
Tickets can also be mailed to: Prizes P.O. Box 777
Madison, WI 53774
For prizes between $600 and $199,999:
Prizes can be claimed in-person at the Wisconsin Lottery offices in Madison or Milwaukee.
—Steven Martinez, Journal Sentinel, 3 Apr. 2024
Claim forms can also be printed and mailed, according to administrators.
—Tanasia Kenney, Miami Herald, 3 Apr. 2024
The deceased woman had purchased the ointment on Facebook, and it was mailed to the U.S. by a relative in Vietnam, the agency stated in a news release.
—Kate Gibson, CBS News, 3 Apr. 2024
Interim recall letters highlighting the safety risks are expected to be mailed out on March 27.
—USA TODAY, 1 Apr. 2024
The two agreed to keep in touch over email, but before that promise could materialize, Passaro mailed Hall a handwritten letter from Miami.
—Maham Javaid, Washington Post, 28 Mar. 2024
Chadwick currently is the CFO of the shipping and mailing company Pitney Bowes and will stay on as advisor until April 21, with John Witek appointed interim CFO.
—Sheryl Estrada, Fortune, 22 Mar. 2024
Hyundai will mail out owner notification letters on May 14, 2024, but owners can also call the manufacturer's customer service line at 1-855-371-9460.
—Sarah Al-Arshani, USA TODAY, 21 Mar. 2024
Two days later, Paul mailed the eagle feather set from near the reservation to Texas.
—Ben Brasch, Washington Post, 20 Mar. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'mail.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Articles Related to mail
Dictionary Entries Near mail
Cite this Entry
“Mail.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mail. Accessed 18 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
1
: letters or parcels sent from one person to another especially through the post office
2
: something that comes in the mail and especially in a single delivery
3
: a vehicle (as a train, truck, or boat) that carries mail
4
: the system used in the public sending and delivery of letters and parcels
do business by mail
5
: armor made of small metal links or sometimes plates
a coat of mail
mailed
adjective
ˈmā(ə)ld
Etymology
Noun
Middle English male "a wallet or traveling bag," from early French male (same meaning); of Germanic origin
Noun
Middle English maille "metal plates used on armor," from early French maille (same meaning), derived from Latin macula "spot, mesh of a net"
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