Phrase guide

dead letter

noun · 5 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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1

noun

Meaning 1

An item of mail that cannot be delivered to its intended recipient; after some time it is returned to the sender, or destroyed.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

A law or other measure that is no longer enforced.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Examples

  • 1905, Basil Hall Chamberlain, Things Japanese, Railways The most formidable obstacle in the way of Japanese railway enterprise is that conflicting interests and local intrigues are apt to render the law of expropriation for public benefit little more than a dead letter.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

noun

Meaning 3

Anything that has lost its authority or influence despite still being in existence or formally in force.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: broadly

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

4

noun

Meaning 4

mail that can neither be delivered nor returned

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: dead mail

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: letter, missive

5

noun

Meaning 5

the state of something that has outlived its relevance

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: non-issue

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: state

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

17 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Chinese Mandarin: 瞎信 (xiāxìn) — item of mail
  • Chinese Mandarin: 盲信 (mángxìn) — item of mail
  • Chinese Mandarin: 死信 (sǐxìn) — item of mail
  • Dutch: onbestelbaar poststuk — item of mail
  • Dutch: rebuut — item of mail
  • Finnish: perille toimittamaton kirje — item of mail
  • French: n'habite pas à l'adresse indiquée — item of mail
  • Chinese Mandarin: 廢法 /废法 — law or other measure that is no longer enforced
  • Chinese Mandarin: 失效法規 /失效法规 (shīxiào fǎguī) — law or other measure that is no longer enforced
  • Dutch: dode letter — law or other measure that is no longer enforced
  • Finnish: kuollut kirjain — law or other measure that is no longer enforced
  • Portuguese: letra morta — law or other measure that is no longer enforced
  • Spanish: letra muerta — law or other measure that is no longer enforced
  • Spanish: papel mojado — law or other measure that is no longer enforced
  • Chinese Mandarin: 具文 (jùwén) — anything that has lost its authority or influence
  • Chinese Mandarin: 空文 (kōngwén) — anything that has lost its authority or influence
  • Finnish: kuollut kirjain — anything that has lost its authority or influence