mail

1 of 4

noun (1)

ˈmāl 

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

: email sense 2a

c

: a conveyance that transports mail

2

: a nation's postal system

a letter sent through the mail

—often used in plural

packages sent through the mails

3

chiefly Scotland : bag, wallet

mail

2 of 4

verb

mailed; mailing; mails

transitive verb

: to send by mail : post entry 4

mailability

ˌmā-lə-ˈbi-lə-tē 

noun

mailable

ˈmā-lə-bəl 

adjective

mail

3 of 4

noun (2)

1

: armor made of metal links or sometimes plates

2

: a hard enclosing covering of an animal (such as a tortoise)

mailed

ˈmāld 

adjective

mail

4 of 4

noun (3)

chiefly Scotland

: payment, rent

Synonyms

Noun (1)

• correspondence
• matter
• parcel post
• post [chiefly British]
• snail mail

Verb

• post

Examples of mail in a Sentence

Noun (1)

began receiving lots of mail after he became known as a frequent donor to charities

Verb

if you don't mail that letter soon, it's going to arrive late

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

These challenges target individuals who forwarded their mail without updating voter registration and U.S. citizens overseas who, under federal law, are limited to voting in federal races, such as those for president and Congress. —Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2024

Though those efforts have failed, the Republican National Committee recently found success in its appeal challenging how Mississippi similarly accepts mail ballots received after Election Day. —Zach Schonfeld, The Hill, 5 Nov. 2024

Verb

Berkeley polling also found that an overwhelming majority of Californians opted to mail their ballots or drop them off ahead of election day. —Faith E. Pinho, Los Angeles Times, 5 Nov. 2024

The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) has taken a case to protect the rights of Cobb County voters in the 2024 presidential election, after officials inadvertently delayed mailing out some absentee ballots. —Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle English male, from Anglo-French, of Germanic origin; akin to Old High German malaha bag

Noun (2)

Middle English maille metal link, mail, from Anglo-French, from Latin macula spot, mesh

Noun (3)

Middle English male, maille, from Old English māl agreement, pay, from Old Norse māl speech, agreement; akin to Old English mǣl speech

First Known Use

Noun (1)

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 3

Verb

1827, in the meaning defined above

Noun (2)

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (3)

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing mail

• by return mail
• certified mail
• chain mail
• coat of mail
• direct mail
• electronic mail
• e-mail
• fan mail
• hate mail
• Irish mail
• junk e-mail
• junk mail
• lost in the mail
• mail carrier
• mail drop
• mail order
• mail-order catalog
• mail room
• registered mail
• snail mail
• surface mail
• voice mail

Kids Definition

mail

1 of 3 noun

ˈmā(ə)l 

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

: email sense 2

mail

2 of 3 verb

: to send by mail : post

mailable

ˈmā-lə-bəl

adjective

mailer noun

mail

3 of 3 noun

: armor made of small metal links or sometimes plates

a coat of mail

mailed

ˈmā(ə)ld

adjective

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"