e-mail

e-mail — noun

1. a way of sending written messages from one computer to another using the interne

1.nounA1
Definition

a way of sending written messages from one computer to another using the internet

Example

Lan checks her e-mail every morning before she starts work.

collocation: check (one's) e-mail

The company's internal e-mail system went down during the storm.

collocation: e-mail system

Common collocations
  • check e-mail
  • read e-mail
  • by e-mail
  • use e-mail for
  • e-mail system
  • e-mail service
Synonyms
  • electronic mail

    the full, more formal name for the system

  • snail mail

    humorous informal term for physical postal mail, used in contrast to e-mail

Antonyms
  • snail mail

    informal; traditional postal mail sent through the post office

Grammar Patterns

e-mail as an uncountable system

Usage Note

Uncountable in this sense — you cannot say 'an e-mail' when referring to the system itself. Use 'e-mail system' or 'e-mail service' for clarity.

Common Mistakes

I have too many e-mails in my inbox.
I have too much e-mail in my inbox.
When referring to messages in general (the system sense), 'e-mail' is uncountable.

2. a single written message sent from one person to another through an electronic m

2.nounA1
Definition

a single written message sent from one person to another through an electronic mail system

Example

Andrei sent his mother a long e-mail about his trip to Japan.

collocation: send someone an e-mail

Iris forwarded the e-mail she received from head office to the whole team.

collocation: forward an e-mail

Common collocations
  • send an e-mail
  • receive an e-mail
  • forward an e-mail
  • delete an e-mail
  • an e-mail from
  • an e-mail to
  • a long e-mail
  • an angry e-mail
Synonyms
  • message

    a broader term that can refer to any form of communication

  • memo

    a short written message, usually within an organisation

Grammar Patterns

an e-mail

e-mails (plural)

e-mail as uncountable for messages in general

Usage Note

Countable when referring to a single message (an e-mail, two e-mails). Uncountable when referring to messages in a general, undefined quantity (I receive too much e-mail).

Common Mistakes

I sent you a mail yesterday.
I sent you an e-mail yesterday.
In the context of computer messages, use 'e-mail,' not just 'mail,' which refers to traditional postal mail.

e-mail — verb

Word family

  • e-mail address
    nounA1
  • e-mail account
    nounA2

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

For the system of sending written messages digitally, 'e-mail' is the standard modern term. 'Mail' alone can be ambiguous — in a business context it often means e-mail now, but outside tech circles it still commonly refers to physical postal mail. 'Post' refers specifically to the official postal service and its physical delivery system (e.g., 'by post,' 'through the post'). 'Snail mail' is informal and slightly humorous, used mainly in contrast to e-mail — for example, 'I'll send you the files by e-mail, and the signed contract by snail mail.' While 'e-mail' is universal and neutral, the other three terms are useful when you need to distinguish digital from physical delivery.

e-mail ↗snail mailpost ↗mail ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Etymology

EnglishFrenchEnglish

A blend of 'electronic' and 'mail,' first used in the 1970s for early computer messaging systems on networks like ARPANET. The shortened form 'e-mail' became common in the 1980s and spread into everyday language as the internet grew popular in the 1990s.