World Languages Lexicon
10 Language-to-English Dictionaries死に手紙
Pronunciation / Transliteration: shini tegami
"宛先不明の郵便物は死に手紙として処理された。"
Comprehensive Definitions & Senses
2 senses- 1
An undeliverable letter that cannot be delivered to the recipient or returned to the sender.
"The post office sent the unclaimed package to the dead-letter department."
- 1
No longer in force or use; obsolete or neglected, typically referring to a law, rule, or custom.
"That century-old city ordinance has become a dead-letter law."
Thesaurus & Semantic Spectrum
Linguistic Origin & Historical Etymology
Coined in the late 18th century from the combination of 'dead' (no longer functioning or valid) and 'letter' (a written message). Originally used in postal administration to describe mail that could neither be delivered to the addressee nor returned to the sender, the term later evolved metaphorically to describe laws, rules, or agreements that are no longer enforced or effective.
Which of the following is the closest synonym for "Dead-letter"?
10 Global Lexicons: How "Dead-letter" is said worldwide
Click any language below to open its dedicated Language to English dictionary page with native script & transliteration
lettre en souffrance
Transliteration: lɛtʁ ɑ̃ su.fʁɑ̃s
"La lettre non distribuée a été envoyée au service des lettres en souffrance."
Unbestellbarer Brief
Transliteration: ʊnbəˈʃtɛlˌbaːʁɐ briːf
"Der Brief landete im Postamt für unbestellbare Sendungen."
lettera giacente
Transliteration: ˈlɛt.te.ra dʒaˈtʃɛn.te
"La lettera è finita tra le giacenze dell'ufficio postale."
carta muerta
Transliteration: ˈkaɾ.ta ˈmweɾ.ta
"Esa antigua ley se ha convertido en letra muerta."
carta morta
Transliteration: ˈkaɾ.tɐ ˈmɔɾ.tɐ
"O acordo tornou-se letra morta após a mudança de governo."
निष्प्रभावी नियम
Transliteration: nishprabhavi niyam
"समय के साथ यह कानून एक निष्प्रभावी नियम बन गया है।"
死信
Transliteration: sǐ xìn
"邮局将这封无法投递的信件归为死信。"
반송불능 우편물
Transliteration: bansong-bulneung upyeonmul
"주소 불명으로 인해 그 편지는 반송불능 우편물이 되었다."
死に手紙
Transliteration: shini tegami
"宛先不明の郵便物は死に手紙として処理された。"
Related Vocabulary Words to Explore
View all Japanese termsA belief, view, or judgment held by a person that runs counter to the prevailing or widely accepted societal consensus.
A manufactured product containing vitamins, intended to supplement one's diet and make up for nutritional deficiencies.
Revealing significant information, often without being intentional; striking or effective.
Explore Nuanced Synonyms for "Dead-letter"
Discover exact matches, context-specific alternatives, and antonyms with intensity ratings in the VocabDictionary Thesaurus.
Enhance Your Writing & Grammar Precision
Linguistic Origins & Word Stories
View all stories →How Are Palisade Cells Adapted for Photosynthesis (and Why Are They Called 'Palisade')?
Palisade mesophyll cells are column-shaped, densely packed with chloroplasts, and positioned near the leaf's upper surface to maximize light absorption for photosynthesis. Their name comes from the French word for a defensive fence of wooden stakes, referencing their tightly aligned, upright cellular structure.
What is a SLOT SWOT Analysis and How Do You Actually Do One?
A SLOT SWOT analysis is an expanded strategic planning framework that blends personal or organizational 'SLOT' (Strengths, Limitations, Opportunities, Threats) metrics with traditional 'SWOT' dynamics. It provides a granular approach to evaluating internal capabilities against external market realities.