snail mail

noun

1

informal : mail delivered by a postal system especially when contrasted with email : mail sense 1a

I avoid using e-mail to complain. I use the phone or old-fashioned snail mail.

—Arlene Silverman

2

informal : a nation's postal system : mail sense 2

The others have taken the traditional route: sending checks by snail mail.

—Stephen Gandel

Synonyms

• mail
• parcel post
• correspondence

Examples of snail mail in a Sentence

She still uses snail mail for paying bills.

I can be contacted by e-mail and snail mail.

Recent Examples on the Web

That crowd doesn’t go in for snail mail — although Gary the Snail might. —Los Angeles Times, 3 July 2025

From social media campaigns to old-fashioned snail mail, the company promises every voice will be heard. —Ana Gutierrez, Austin American Statesman, 2 July 2025

Be wary of mailbox communications: Bad actors may also try to scam you through snail mail. —Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 28 June 2025

When Medicaid agencies rely on outdated methods like snail mail and email, critical information gets lost. —Lisa Fitzpatrick, Forbes.com, 5 June 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1982, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for snail mail

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

Kids Definition

snail mail

noun

informal

1

: mail delivered by a postal system

2

: mail entry 1 sense 4