Salamat boss idol
speech sounds in writing or print and that make up the alphabet
2
: a written or printed communication
3
plural : literature sense 2a
4
: the strict or outward meaning
the letter of the law
5
: the initial of a school awarded to a student especially for athletic achievement
letter
2 of 2
verb
: to mark with letters
letterer
-ər-ər
noun
Legal Definition
letter
noun
let·ter
1
: a direct written statement addressed to an individual or organization
broadly : an official communication
see also counterletter
— Crummey letter \ ˈkrə-mē \
: a letter from the trustee of a Crummey trust notifying the beneficiary of his or her right to withdraw funds for a given time
— determination letter
: a letter from an administrative agency (as the Internal Revenue Service) usually in response to a request in which a determination, decision, or ruling is made
— information letter
: a letter from an administrative agency usually in response to a request that provides information and especially that simply calls attention to an interpretation or principle of law
— letter of intent
: a letter in which the intention to enter into a formal agreement (as a contract) or to take some specified action is stated
— letter rogatory \ -ˈrō-gə-ˌtȯr-ē \ probably partial translation of Medieval Latin littera rogatoria letter of request
: a formal written request by a court to a court in a foreign jurisdiction to summon and examine a witness in accordance with that jurisdiction's procedures (as oral interrogatories) —usually used in pl.
— 90-day letter
: a letter from the Internal Revenue Service notifying a taxpayer of a determination of a deficiency
Note: A taxpayer has 90 days from the date of the mailing of the 90-day letter to petition for a redetermination of the deficiency in the U.S. Tax Court.
— no-action letter
: a letter from an attorney for the Securities and Exchange Commission recommending that the Commission take no prosecutorial action with regard to a suspected and investigated violation of SEC rules or regulations
— opinion letter
: a letter in which an opinion (as of a court or attorney) is given
— ruling letter
: determination letter in this entry
— 30-day letter
: a letter from the Internal Revenue Service to a taxpayer who has been audited and disputes the auditor's determination that sets out the taxpayer's right to appeal
Note: A taxpayer has 30 days from the time of the mailing of the 30-day letter to respond.
2
: a written communication usually from a court containing a grant (as of a right) or an appointment —usually used in pl.
— letter of attorney
: power of attorney
— letter of marque \ -ˈmärk \ Anglo-French mark, marque right of retaliation, from Middle French marque, from Old Provençal marca, from marcar to mark, seize as pledge
: a letter from a government formerly used to grant a private person the power to seize the subjects of a foreign state
specifically : authority granted to a private person to fit out an armed ship to plunder the enemy —usually used in pl. —often used in the phrase letters of marque and reprisal
the Congress shall have power…to declare war, grant letters of marque and reprisal, and make rules concerning captures on land and water
—U.S. Constitution art. I
— letters of administration
: a letter from a probate court that appoints the addressee administrator of an estate
— letters patent
: a letter (as from a government) that grants a designated person a right (as to property) and that is in a form open for public inspection : patent
— letters testamentary
: a letter from a probate court that appoints or confirms the executor of an estate
3
: letter of credit
More from Merriam-Webster on letter
Nglish: Translation of letter for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of letter for Arabic Speakers
Last Updated: 7 Feb 2025 - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play
Word of the Day
ruminate
See Definitions and Examples »
Get Word of the Day daily email!
Your email address
Popular in Grammar & Usage
7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words
Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?
What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?
More Commonly Misspelled Words
Words You Always Have to Look Up
Popular in Wordplay
More Words with Remarkable Origins
Terroir, Oenophile, & Magnum: Ten Words About Wine
8 Words for Lesser-Known Musical Instruments
10 Words from Taylor Swift Songs (Merriam's Version)
15 Words That Used to Mean Something Different
Games & Quizzes
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle
Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Word Game
Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
Missing Letter
A daily crossword with a twist
a cassowary positioning its body to the left standing on a patch of grass before two trees and the ocean in the background
Name That Animal MegaQuiz
A creature feature for fans of fauna
Merriam Webster
Learn a new word every day. Delivered to your inbo