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Glite Dictionary
✈️ Mail by plane ✈️ To send by plane
airmail

airmail

5 2.3
Letters and packages sent by plane to arrive faster
  • noun
  • /ˈɛrˌmeɪl/
translation icon : correo aéreo
  • On April 18, 1950, the C102 made history when it flew from Toronto to New York with the first sack of airmail to be carried by a jet.
  • airmail stamp

So when she opened the letter, she's got an airmail stamp from England, which makes it different.

Examples

  • On September 17th, 1955, Dr Luther received a special-delivery airmail letter from Richmond, Virginia.

    The Three Faces of Eve (1957)

  • For special occasions, I used thin airmail paper that folded in on itself and cost five cents more in stamps than regular mail.

    Academic text (2011)

  • So I have to send everything from here out by airmail.

    Dear John (2010)

  • The cost of a subscription by airmail will be set at the actual cost of delivery.

    Academic text (1995)

  • Nine of the stamps mentioned in this text are airmail issues.

    Academic text (1992)

  • I got a fast note by airmail from Tombo this morning.

    Royal Wedding (1951)

  • Harris explained, took the airmail envelope from his pocket, and laid it on the table.

    Fiction book (1994)

  • Then we stuff everything in an airmail envelope and send it off to Uncle Zach.

    Fiction book (1999)

  • When the letter came in an airmail envelope, Aunt Sybil moved it to the top of the stack and walked to the kitchen to read it.

    Fiction book (2000)

  • I received a birthday card sent by airmail from my friend in Australia.

Synonyms

air mail
vsairmail
1 2.8

Letters and packages sent by plane to other countries

covers both the transport system and the items sent by that system
airpost
vsairmail
  • Archaic
5.6

A way of sending letters and packages by airplane

also includes the actual items carried, not only the transport network

Compounds

airmail letter
2.5

A letter sent by air to another country so it arrives faster

How Fast

express
12 3.5
airmail
5 2.3

Surface Forms

airmail singular
airmails plural

Morphology

airmail = air + mail (transparent) = air + mail

The noun is a straightforward compound 'air' + 'mail' meaning mail transported by aircraft, which is directly inferable from the parts.

Etymology

Airmail comes from the two simple words air ('the sky') and mail ('letters and packages'), and it began when planes started to carry mail so things could travel much faster.