letterbox: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1informal for verb usage; technical for cinematographic usage
Quick answer
What does “letterbox” mean?
A container in a door or wall for receiving letters delivered by the postal service.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A container in a door or wall for receiving letters delivered by the postal service.
1) A verb meaning to deliver a large number of political leaflets by hand through domestic letterboxes. 2) In cinematography, the black bars at the top and bottom of a widescreen image shown on a standard television screen.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
UK: 'letterbox' is the standard term for a mail slot in a door, or a freestanding box. US: 'mailbox' is the standard term for the container; 'letter box' or 'mail slot' might be understood but is less common.
Connotations
In the UK, strongly associated with domestic postal delivery. In the US, the term might sound British or refer specifically to a slot in a door.
Frequency
Very high frequency in UK English; low-to-medium frequency in US English, primarily in specialized contexts (e.g., film).
Grammar
How to Use “letterbox” in a Sentence
[SOMEONE] letterboxed [SOMETHING] (e.g., a leaflet)[SOMETHING] was letterboxeda letterbox formatVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “letterbox” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The volunteers spent Saturday letterboxing campaign leaflets across the constituency.
- Our flyers were letterboxed in over 5,000 homes.
American English
- The political action group letterboxed the neighbourhood with pamphlets. (Rare, but understood in political circles)
adverb
British English
- N/A
American English
- N/A
adjective
British English
- The film was shown in a letterbox format on the old TV.
- A letterbox slot is common in modern doors.
American English
- The DVD featured a letterbox transfer for widescreen TVs.
- He has a letterbox-style mail slot in his front door. (Less common phrasing)
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare, except in marketing ('letterbox campaign') or postal logistics.
Academic
Rare outside of media/film studies ('letterboxing effect').
Everyday
Common in UK for the physical object; verb usage in political contexts.
Technical
Standard term in film/video production for a specific aspect ratio presentation.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “letterbox”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “letterbox”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “letterbox”
- Using 'letterbox' as a verb in non-political contexts (odd).
- Using UK 'letterbox' to mean a US-style roadside mailbox.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. In American English, a 'mailbox' is typically a box on a post by the street. A 'letterbox' is not a standard term; 'mail slot' would be used for a slot in a door.
Yes, primarily in the context of film and video ('letterbox format'), describing the wide image with black bars at the top and bottom.
It is a specialized verb, common in UK political campaigning jargon, meaning to deliver leaflets by hand through letterboxes. It is not a general synonym for 'to post' or 'to mail'.
For the physical object, use 'почтовый ящик' (pochtovyy yashchik). For the film term, use 'формат letterbox' or describe it as 'широкоэкранное изображение с чёрными полосами сверху и снизу'.
A container in a door or wall for receiving letters delivered by the postal service.
Letterbox is usually informal for verb usage; technical for cinematographic usage in register.
Letterbox: in British English it is pronounced /ˈlet.ə.bɒks/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈlet̬.ɚ.bɑːks/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “letterbox format”
- “letterboxed for television”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a LETTER waiting in a BOX.
Conceptual Metaphor
CONTAINER FOR COMMUNICATION (noun); DISTRIBUTING MESSAGES WIDELY (verb).
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'letterbox' most likely to be used as a verb?