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, 15 Apr. 2024
The traditionally Catholic nation has one of the most restrictive laws in Europe – but the reality is that many women terminate pregnancies at home with pills mailed from abroad.
—Vanessa Gera, The Christian Science Monitor, 11 Apr. 2024
All refund checks will be mailed via the U.S. Postal Service.
—The Arizona Republic, 10 Apr. 2024
The art will become an original image that will be reproduced as postcards for mailing in May 2025 as a part of Mental Health Month.
—Kirby Adams, The Courier-Journal, 9 Apr. 2024
Those glasses should be mailed to Eclipse Glasses USA, LLC PO Box 50571 Provo, Utah 84605 by Aug. 1, 2024 .
—Charna Flam, Peoplemag, 9 Apr. 2024
In downtown Saratoga, Low knocked on the door of MaryAnn Serpa, 70, and her partner of 43 years, Julie Mednick, who both mailed in their ballots.
—Harriet Blair Rowan, The Mercury News, 7 Apr. 2024
During that time, as well as years after, the killer mailed a series of letters to local newspapers alongside a total of four ciphers.
—Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 4 Apr. 2024
The organization had asked Idahoans to mail in homemade paper hearts to show their support for the LGBTQ+ community as lawmakers again pushed bills targeting the population.
—Sally Krutzig, Idaho Statesman, 2 Apr. 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 signed and mailed to: Prizes
P.O. Box 777
Madison, WI 53774
For prizes exceeding $200,000:
Prizes must be claimed in-person at the Wisconsin Lottery office in Madison.
—Steven Martinez, Journal Sentinel, 15 Apr. 2024
The traditionally Catholic nation has one of the most restrictive laws in Europe – but the reality is that many women terminate pregnancies at home with pills mailed from abroad.
—Vanessa Gera, The Christian Science Monitor, 11 Apr. 2024
All refund checks will be mailed via the U.S. Postal Service.
—The Arizona Republic, 10 Apr. 2024
The art will become an original image that will be reproduced as postcards for mailing in May 2025 as a part of Mental Health Month.
—Kirby Adams, The Courier-Journal, 9 Apr. 2024
Those glasses should be mailed to Eclipse Glasses USA, LLC PO Box 50571 Provo, Utah 84605 by Aug. 1, 2024 .
—Charna Flam, Peoplemag, 9 Apr. 2024
In downtown Saratoga, Low knocked on the door of MaryAnn Serpa, 70, and her partner of 43 years, Julie Mednick, who both mailed in their ballots.
—Harriet Blair Rowan, The Mercury News, 7 Apr. 2024
During that time, as well as years after, the killer mailed a series of letters to local newspapers alongside a total of four ciphers.
—Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 4 Apr. 2024
The organization had asked Idahoans to mail in homemade paper hearts to show their support for the LGBTQ+ community as lawmakers again pushed bills targeting the population.
—Sally Krutzig, Idaho Statesman, 2 Apr. 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 19 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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