mail

1 of 4

noun (1)

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
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 noun
mailable 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 adjective

mail

4 of 4

noun (3)

chiefly Scotland

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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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 See all Example Sentences for mail 

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of mail was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near mail

Cite this Entry

“Mail.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mail. Accessed 26 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

mail

1 of 3 noun
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

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"

More from Merriam-Webster on mail

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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