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The word carries a sense of distance and delayed gratification, evoking the tactile experience of paper, envelopes, and physical delivery. It is distinct from electronic communication in its permanence and the physical effort required to transport an object from one location to another.
In modern usage, the term has expanded to include electronic mail, though the physical connotation remains dominant in legal or formal contexts. It suggests a structured, institutional process of transit, often associated with bureaucracy or long-distance personal connection.
Uncountable when referring to the general system or collective bulk of letters. Countable when referring to individual pieces of correspondence or specific shipments.
Meanings
Examples
Ancient empires relied on a sophisticated royal mail.
Phrasal Verbs
mail in
to send a document or application by post rather than delivering it in person
Please mail in your registration form by the end of the month.
mail out
to send a large quantity of items to many different recipients
The company will mail out the newsletters to all subscribers next week.