chain letter: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
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Quick answer
What does “chain letter” mean?
A letter that is sent to a recipient with instructions to copy and send it to a number of other people, typically promising good luck if complied with or bad luck if broken.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A letter that is sent to a recipient with instructions to copy and send it to a number of other people, typically promising good luck if complied with or bad luck if broken.
Any message, now often digital (email, social media post), that urges recipients to forward it to others, often using emotional manipulation, threats of bad luck, or promises of reward to perpetuate itself. It can also refer to a fraudulent scheme disguised as a letter.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant lexical differences. The concept is identical.
Connotations
Identical connotations of annoyance and triviality.
Frequency
Equally common in both varieties, though references to physical postal chain letters may be less frequent in contemporary usage.
Grammar
How to Use “chain letter” in a Sentence
[subject] receives/forwards/ignores a chain lettera chain letter [verb: circulates/promises/threatens]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “chain letter” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- He was accused of trying to chain-letter the entire office with that ridiculous story.
American English
- That meme is designed to chain-letter its way across the internet.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used critically to describe unsolicited, non-professional communication or referral schemes that resemble pyramid structures.
Academic
Studied in sociology/media studies as an example of pre-digital viral communication, social conformity, and superstition.
Everyday
Commonly used to describe annoying emails or social media posts demanding to be shared.
Technical
In computing/cybersecurity, may be referenced in the context of email spam or social engineering tactics.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “chain letter”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “chain letter”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “chain letter”
- Using 'chain email' exclusively for modern versions; 'chain letter' remains the hypernym. Spelling as one word: 'chainletter'. Confusing it with a 'newsletter'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, while many play on luck or threats, some are simply amusing stories or hoaxes designed to spread widely.
Spam is bulk, unsolicited commercial email. A chain letter relies on recipients voluntarily forwarding it to their contacts, often using psychological pressure.
Most are merely annoying. However, chain letters that involve sending money (pyramid schemes) or contain threats/malicious content can be illegal.
Yes, posts that say 'share this with 10 friends or you'll have bad luck' are the direct descendants of postal chain letters.
A letter that is sent to a recipient with instructions to copy and send it to a number of other people, typically promising good luck if complied with or bad luck if broken.
Chain letter is usually neutral in register.
Chain letter: in British English it is pronounced /ˈtʃeɪn ˌletə(r)/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈtʃeɪn ˌlɛdər/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “break the chain”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a bicycle CHAIN made of paper LETTERS linked together; breaking one link (not forwarding it) supposedly brings bad luck.
Conceptual Metaphor
COMMUNICATION IS A CHAIN (links, breaking, continuity); SUPERSTITION IS A CONTAGION (spreading, infecting).
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary modern context for a 'chain letter'?