dead letter

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. An item of mail that cannot be delivered to its intended recipient; after some time it is returned to the sender, or destroyed.
  2. A law or other measure that is no longer enforced.
  3. Anything that has lost its authority or influence despite still being in existence or formally in force.

Pronunciation

LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-dead letter.wav

Word forms

dead letter dead letters

Related words

Derived words

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