SINCE 1828

An Encyclopædia Britannica Company

snail mail

noun

Definition of snail mail

1 :mail delivered by a postal system

2 :mail 3

See snail mail defined for English-language learners

See snail mail defined for kids

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.

First Known Use of snail mail

1982

snail mail Synonyms

Synonyms

correspondence, matter, parcel post, post [chiefly British], mail

Related Words

airmail, airpost, certified mail, registered mail, rural delivery, rural free delivery, special delivery, special handling; direct mail, junk mail, mailer; card, dispatch, epistle, letter, message, missive, note, postal card, postcard, printed matter; bundle, package, shipment

SNAIL MAIL Defined for English Language Learners

snail mail

noun

Definition of snail mail for English Language Learners

: ordinary mail that is delivered by a postal system : mail that is not e-mail

Learn More about snail mail

See words that rhyme with snail mail Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for snail mail

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up snail mail? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show

WORD OF THE DAY

yeasty

play

of yeast or being unsettled or frivolous

BROWSE DICTIONARY

snail-horned

snailish

snail mail

snail-paced

snail-seed

Test Your Vocabulary

Merriam-Webster's New Words Quiz—Fall 2017 Edition!

Which of the following is a new sense of the word bunny?

Name That Thing

Test your visual vocabulary with our 10-question challenge!

TAKE THE QUIZ

Dictionary Devil

Test Your Knowledge - and learn some interesting things along the way.

TAKE THE QUIZ

Words at Play

alt-59c52d6ee2f72

Breathing Life Into 'Inspire'

The word's origins are quite literal

alt-59c4207ecf106

Let's Talk 'Tea'

Spill it, sip it: just make it hot.

8 Words and Phrases from Boxing and Wrestling

Common terms that come from boxing and wrestling

alt-59c2960017c94

The Ambiguity of Pushing 'Up' and 'Back'

When you push a meeting, where does it go?

Ask the Editors

video-title-words-of-the-year-1066

Words of the Year: 1066

Or, Why Pig Meat is Called 'Pork' and Cow Meat is Called 'Beef'

How Often Is 'Biweekly'?

Don't get us started on 'bimonthly'

video-irregardless-grammar-peeve-blend-of-the-synonyms-irrespective-and-regardless

Irregardless

It is in fact a real word (but that doesn't mean you should use it).

video-moose-goose-weird-plurals

Weird Plurals

One goose, two geese. One moose, two... moose. What's up with that?

Word Games

young-plant-shoots

Merriam-Webster's New Words Quiz—Fall 2017 Edition!

You're going to have to memorize the dictionary again.

Take the quiz

stylized-drawing-of-woman-pole-vaulting-across-gap-to-get-trophy

Challenging Vocabulary Quiz Returns!

No tricks, just difficult words.

Take the quiz

Name That Thing

Name That Thing

Test your visual vocabulary with our 10-question challenge!

Take the quiz

Dictionary Devil

Dictionary Devil

The dictionary has been scrambled—can you put it back together?

Play the game

Examples: snail mail in a Sentence