snail mail

Definition

Mail (physical material) sent in the post, especially as compared with email.

Etymology

A retronym emphasizing postal mail's slowness compared to email.

Example Sentences

• "I came home to a mailbox stuffed with snail mail."
• "To send a letter by snail mail (the Postal Service), you must still compose it, and also print it out, unless you write it by hand or on a typewriter."
• "The official notice will be sent via both email and snail mail owing to legal requirements."