Phrase guide

message in a bottle

noun · 2 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

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • US: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.

1

noun

Meaning 1

A message written on a scrap of paper, rolled up and put in an empty bottle and set adrift on the ocean; traditionally, a method used by castaways to advertise their distress to the outside world.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: sea-bottle

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

An analogous message sent off into the world or universe without knowledge of who the recipient will be: plaques on craft launched into outer space, interstellar radio messages, stationary time capsules, balloon mail, and so on.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: figuratively

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

10 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Danish: flaskepost — message put in an empty bottle and set adrift on the ocean
  • Dutch: flessenpost — message put in an empty bottle and set adrift on the ocean
  • Finnish: pulloposti — message put in an empty bottle and set adrift on the ocean
  • French: bouteille à la mer — message put in an empty bottle and set adrift on the ocean
  • German: Flaschenpost — message put in an empty bottle and set adrift on the ocean
  • Icelandic: flöskuskeyti — message put in an empty bottle and set adrift on the ocean
  • Italian: messaggio in bottiglia — message put in an empty bottle and set adrift on the ocean
  • Japanese: ボトルメール — message put in an empty bottle and set adrift on the ocean
  • Polish: wiadomość w butelce — message put in an empty bottle and set adrift on the ocean
  • Swedish: flaskpost — message put in an empty bottle and set adrift on the ocean