snail mail

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

ˈsnail ˌmail, n. [uncountable]

1. Computing, Slang Terms standard postal service, as contrasted with electronic mail.Also called s-mail. 

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

snail′ mail′, 

1. Computing, Slang Terms [Facetious.] physical delivery of mail, as contrasted with electronic mail.Also called s-mail. 

• 1980–85

snail′ mail′, 

1. Computing, Slang Terms [Informal.] physical delivery of mail, as contrasted with electronic mail.Also called s-mail. 

• 1980–85

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

snail mail noun

1. the conventional postal system, as opposed to electronic mail

verb snail-mail

1. (transitive) to send by the conventional postal system, rather than by electronic mail

Etymology: 20th Century: so named because of the relative slowness of the conventional postal system

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

s-mail  (es′māl′), n. 

1. Computing See snail mail .

s-mail  (es′māl′), n. 

1. Computing See snail mail  (in this section).