direct mail

American  

noun

1. mail, usually consisting of advertising matter, appeals for donations, or the like, sent simultaneously to large numbers of possible individual customers or contributors. DM

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Other Word Forms

• direct-mail adjective

Etymology

Origin of direct mail

First recorded in 1925–30

Example Sentences

Malchow cited two tectonic shifts: Swing voters were disappearing — 90% of voters were choosing parties, not candidates — and direct mail as a campaign tactic had completely stopped working.

From Salon • May 10, 2025

It also expressed concerns that proposals to add a new category of regulation to ensure timely delivery for business users like direct mail companies "goes against the wider government drive to reduce unnecessary regulation".

From BBC • Apr. 13, 2025

The company says it’s using direct mail, phone calls, digital advertising and social media to try to reach the affected owners.

From Seattle Times • May 9, 2023

The group also helped re-elect Larry Krasner, the district attorney of Philadelphia, by contacting more than 300,000 voters and sending nearly 200,000 pieces of direct mail on his behalf.

From New York Times • Mar. 23, 2023

No considerable expenditure in direct mail solicitation and no form letter should be extensively used without an elaborate series of tests.

From How to Write Letters (Formerly The Book of Letters) A Complete Guide to Correct Business and Personal Correspondence by Crowther, Mary Owens