noun

mail

mayl

noun

Letters, parcels, and other items sent through the postal system.

"She checked the mailbox but there was no mail today."

"The mail is usually delivered by early afternoon."

Email; electronic messages sent over a computer network.

"I need to check my mail before the meeting starts."

"He sent me a mail with the attached report."

Flexible armor made from small interlinked metal rings.

"The knight wore a shirt of mail beneath his surcoat."

verb

To send something through the post or by email.

"Please mail the contract to head office by Friday."

"I'll mail you the photos as soon as I get home."

How to Use Mail

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishLetters and packages sent by post, or messages sent by email — plus, unrelated, a type of metal-ring armor.

Common mistake

Mail (post/armor) and male (a man, or masculine) are homophones — easy to mix up in writing.

Easily confused with

male →

Common pairings

send mail check your mail a coat of mail junk mail

Word Forms

mailed past tense, mailed past tense, mails plural, mails plural, mails plural, mails singular, mails singular

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Fill the Gap

Can you complete this real example?

She checked the mailbox but there was no _____ today.

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").

Rhymes for mail

rail tail pail nail sail fail hail jail vail bail wail quail

See all rhymes for mail →