airmail

IPA/ˈeəmeɪl/
KK[ˈɛrmˌel]IPA/ˈermeɪl/

airmail — noun

1. the postal service that carries letters and packages between countries on aeropl

1.nounB1
Definition

the postal service that carries letters and packages between countries on aeroplanes, usually faster but more expensive than ground or sea delivery.

Example

Grandma sent the birthday card by airmail from Taipei so it would arrive in London on time.

send + by airmail (preposition pattern)

The online shop offers two shipping options: cheap surface post or faster airmail.

contrast with surface post

Common collocations
  • send by airmail
  • an airmail letter
  • an airmail envelope
  • an airmail sticker
  • an airmail label
Synonyms
  • air post

    older term, mostly historical

  • express post

    broader; covers fast delivery by any method, not only by plane

Antonyms
  • surface mail

    post sent by road, rail, or ship instead of by plane

  • sea mail

    specifically post carried by ship, the cheapest international option

Grammar Patterns

by airmail

airmail + noun (attributive)

Usage Note

Often used attributively before a noun (an airmail letter, an airmail envelope, an airmail sticker). The word is heard less often today because most international post already travels by plane by default; people now usually just say 'post' or 'shipping' and choose a speed option.

Common Mistakes

I sent the letter by an airmail.
I sent the letter by airmail.
'by airmail' takes no article, like 'by car' or 'by post'.
Please airmail this parcel to me.' (if you mean the service in general).
Please send this parcel by airmail.
'airmail' is mainly used as a noun in modern British and American English.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

All four words name ways of moving letters and parcels, but they differ in speed, route, and how modern they sound. 'Airmail' specifically means post carried by plane and was the standard fast option for most of the twentieth century; today it sounds slightly old-fashioned because most international post already flies by default. 'Surface mail' is the umbrella term for anything sent by road, rail, or ship — slower and cheaper. 'Sea mail' is more specific: post that travels on ships, often used for heavy parcels where price matters more than speed. 'Express post' is the modern marketing term covering any fast service, by plane or otherwise, and is what most post offices now print on their forms instead of 'airmail'.

airmail ↗surface mail ↗sea mailexpress post

Common collocations

Nouns

  • airmail letter
  • airmail envelope
  • airmail sticker
  • airmail label
  • airmail postcard
  • airmail service

Phrases

  • send something by airmail
  • arrive by airmail

Prepositions

  • by airmail
  • via airmail

Etymology

English

A straightforward English compound of 'air' (the sky, here meaning 'by aeroplane') and 'mail' (letters and parcels sent through the postal system). The word appeared in the early 1900s as soon as planes started carrying post — the first official airmail flights took place in 1911, and the term spread quickly with international postal agreements in the 1920s and 30s.