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dead letter

   Also found in: Legal, Idioms, Encyclopedia, Wikipedia 0.03 sec.
dead letter
n.
1. An unclaimed or undelivered letter that after a period of time is destroyed or returned to the sender by the postal service.
2. A law, directive, or factor still formally in effect but no longer valid or enforced.
dead letter
n
1. (Electronics & Computer Science / Communications & Information) a letter that cannot be delivered or returned because it lacks adequate directions
2. (Law) a law or ordinance that is no longer enforced but has not been formally repealed
3. Informal anything considered no longer worthy of consideration
ThesaurusLegend:  Synonyms Related Words Antonyms
Noun1.dead letter - the state of something that has outlived its relevance
non-issue
state - the way something is with respect to its main attributes; "the current state of knowledge"; "his state of health"; "in a weak financial state"
2.dead letter - mail that can neither be delivered nor returned
dead mail
letter, missive - a written message addressed to a person or organization; "mailed an indignant letter to the editor"


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? Mentioned in ? References in classic literature
 
Without the SUBSTANCE of this power, the whole Constitution would be a dead letter.
Federalist Papers Authored by James Madison by Madison, James View in context
The Northwest Company were now in complete occupation of the Columbia River, and its chief tributary streams, holding the posts which he had established, and carrying on a trade throughout the neighboring region, in defiance of the prohibitory law of Congress, which, in effect, was a dead letter beyond the mountains.
Astoria or Anecdotes of an enterprise beyond the Rocky Mountains by Irving, Washington View in context
Laws are a dead letter without courts to expound and define their true meaning and operation.
Federalist Papers Authored by Alexander Hamilton by Hamilton, Alexander View in context
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