dead letter
noun
1
: something that has lost its force or authority without being formally abolished
2
: a letter that is undeliverable and unreturnable by the post office
Examples of dead letter in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The 2015 deal has become a dead letter, but its nominal expiration date of October 18 coincides with the Trump administration’s new opportunity to pull in its EU partners to create a solid Western position that would put more international pressure on Iran’s highly stressed leadership.
—
John R. Bolton, The Atlantic, 9 July 2025
Trump wants the war to end, but Ukraine will not enjoy lasting peace without guarantees against further Russian aggression, and our allies know that any security guarantee without the U.S. will be a dead letter.
—Ian Kelly, Chicago Tribune, 21 Feb. 2025
The note makes its way to the desk of Jasper, a seasoned ‘dead letter’ investigator at a 1980s midwestern post office.
—Matt Grobar, Deadline, 13 Feb. 2025
Today, to our peril, the Monroe Doctrine is becoming a dead letter.
—Steve Forbes, Forbes, 24 Sep. 2024
See All Example Sentences for dead letter
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.
John R. Bolton, The Atlantic, 9 July 2025
Trump wants the war to end, but Ukraine will not enjoy lasting peace without guarantees against further Russian aggression, and our allies know that any security guarantee without the U.S. will be a dead letter.
—Ian Kelly, Chicago Tribune, 21 Feb. 2025
The note makes its way to the desk of Jasper, a seasoned ‘dead letter’ investigator at a 1980s midwestern post office.
—Matt Grobar, Deadline, 13 Feb. 2025
Today, to our peril, the Monroe Doctrine is becoming a dead letter.
—Steve Forbes, Forbes, 24 Sep. 2024
See All Example Sentences for dead letter
Cite this Entry
“Dead letter.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dead%20letter. Accessed 30 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share