dead letter

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 A law, rule, or precedent still formally in effect but no longer valid or enforced.

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

dead letter

n

1. (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 (Law) a law or ordinance that is no longer enforced but has not been formally repealed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

Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

dead′ let′ter

n.

1. a letter that is not deliverable or returnable by the post office.

2. a law no longer enforced but not formally repealed.

[1570–80]

dead′-let′ter, adj.

Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.

Thesaurus

Noun	1.	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"

Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.