15 synonyms and 0 antonyms for mail, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — Letters, parcels, and other items sent through the postal system.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
How to use mail
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
Etymology
The postal sense comes from Old French male ("bag, wallet"), from a Frankish word for a bag used to carry letters. The armor sense is unrelated, from Old French maille, ultimately from Latin macula ("mesh, spot").
Full origin of mail →Frequently asked questions
What does “mail” mean?
The word “mail” means letters, parcels, and other items sent through the postal system. In plain terms, letters and packages sent by post, or messages sent by email — plus, unrelated, a type of metal-ring armor.
How do you pronounce “mail”?
“Mail” is pronounced mayl (/meɪl/ in IPA).
How do you use “mail” in a sentence?
Here is “mail” used in a sentence: “She checked the mailbox but there was no mail today.”
What part of speech is “mail”?
Depending on how it is used, “mail” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “mail” come from?
The word “mail” comes from Latin. The postal sense comes from Old French male ("bag, wallet"), from a Frankish word for a bag used to carry letters. The armor sense is unrelated, from Old French maille, ultimately from Latin macula ("mesh, spot").
Is “mail” a common word?
“Mail” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A1 level.
How many meanings does “mail” have?
“Mail” has 4 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: letters, parcels, and other items sent through the postal system.
What is the difference between mail and post?
They mean much the same thing. British English traditionally uses "post" for both the system and the items, as in "I'll post the letter," while American English uses "mail," as in "I'll mail it." "Mail" is now widely understood everywhere, helped along by the word "email."
What is the difference between mail and email?
"Mail" traditionally means physical letters and parcels delivered by the postal service, sometimes called snail mail. "Email" is electronic mail sent over the internet. In casual speech "mail" now often means email as well, so context tells you whether a message is on paper or digital.
Is mail a verb or a noun?
Both. As a noun, "mail" is the collection of letters and parcels sent by post. As a verb, to "mail" something is to send it through the postal system, common in American English. There is also an unrelated older noun, "mail," meaning armour made of linked metal rings.