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)
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
Caroline Neal, Louisville Courier Journal, 30 Oct. 2025
As of Thursday morning, more than 5 million mail ballots have been returned, about 22% of all registered voters, according to a tracker by election data and redistricting expert Paul Mitchell.
—Nicole Nixon, Sacbee.com, 30 Oct. 2025
Medora Lee, USA Today, 24 Oct. 2025
Fort Lauderdale has many oceanfront establishments that aren’t simply mailing it in with the food and banking on the gorgeous sunset to keep guests happy.
—Stacey Lastoe, Southern Living, 24 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for mail
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Noun
Hunters can also help monitoring efforts by using the sample mail-in kits.
—Caroline Neal, Louisville Courier Journal, 30 Oct. 2025
As of Thursday morning, more than 5 million mail ballots have been returned, about 22% of all registered voters, according to a tracker by election data and redistricting expert Paul Mitchell.
—Nicole Nixon, Sacbee.com, 30 Oct. 2025
Verb
Letters will be mailed in December to let beneficiaries know what their new monthly will be, SSA said.
—Medora Lee, USA Today, 24 Oct. 2025
Fort Lauderdale has many oceanfront establishments that aren’t simply mailing it in with the food and banking on the gorgeous sunset to keep guests happy.
—Stacey Lastoe, Southern Living, 24 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for mail
Cite this Entry
“Mail.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mail. Accessed 31 Oct. 2025.
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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