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Glite Dictionary
window envelope

window envelope

3.1
An envelope with a clear window that shows the address on the paper inside
  • noun
translation icon : sobre ventana
  • When mailing important documents, it's best to use a window envelope to ensure the address is visible.

Examples

  • ( Yes, I'm the guy that rips apart window envelopes to recycle the paper and digs the paper TP rolls out of the trash to recycle them too).

    Blog text (19)

  • I received my bank statement in a window envelope, allowing me to see my address without opening it.

  • The company switched to window envelopes for their invoices to streamline their mailing process.

Surface Forms

window envelope singular
window envelopes plural

Morphology

window + envelope

The meaning 'an envelope with a transparent panel that displays the address' is directly and transparently derivable from combining 'window' (a transparent panel/opening) with 'envelope' (a paper sleeve for mailing). This simple noun–noun composition follows regular English compounding and has cross-linguistic parallels, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents will readily infer the MWE's meaning.

Etymology

Window envelope comes from a simple idea: companies put a small clear window in the front of an envelope so the address on the paper inside 'shows through'. That's why a window envelope lets you display the 'address' without writing it again.