letterboxing: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2informal, technical
Quick answer
What does “letterboxing” mean?
The activity of hiding and finding containers or clues in outdoor locations using GPS coordinates or written clues.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The activity of hiding and finding containers or clues in outdoor locations using GPS coordinates or written clues.
The practice of fitting a wide-screen image into a standard 4:3 television screen, resulting in black bars above and below the image.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
As a hobby, both regions use the term. In film/TV context, 'letterboxing' is the standard technical term internationally; 'pillarboxing' is its counterpart for vertical framing.
Connotations
In the UK, the hobby sense might be less known; the technical term is universally understood in media industries.
Frequency
Technical term is frequent in film/TV contexts globally. The hobby sense is niche but has dedicated communities in both regions.
Grammar
How to Use “letterboxing” in a Sentence
[subject] enjoys letterboxing[subject] went letterboxing in [location]The film is presented with letterboxingVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “letterboxing” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- We spent the afternoon letterboxing on Dartmoor.
- They often go letterboxing as a family.
American English
- We're planning to go letterboxing in the state park this weekend.
- He introduced me to letterboxing last summer.
adjective
British English
- The letterboxing community is very friendly.
- She follows letterboxing clues from a website.
American English
- He has a letterboxing notebook full of stamps.
- There's a popular letterboxing trail near the lake.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare, except in media/TV technology companies discussing aspect ratio formatting.
Academic
Used in media studies or recreation/leisure studies papers.
Everyday
Mostly used by hobbyists describing their weekend activity.
Technical
Standard term in film post-production, broadcasting, and video encoding.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “letterboxing”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “letterboxing”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “letterboxing”
- Confusing 'letterboxing' (hobby) with 'geocaching' (broader), or using 'letterbox' as a verb incorrectly (e.g., 'I letterboxed it' vs. 'I went letterboxing').
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Letterboxing is a specific form of geocaching that uses clues and physical stamps, whereas geocaching typically relies on GPS coordinates and may not involve stamping.
The term comes from the shape of the image, which resembles a wide letter slot in a mailbox (a 'letterbox'), flanked by black bars.
For the hobby, you mainly need clues (often found online), a notebook, a personal stamp, and an inkpad. A compass can be helpful for traditional clues.
The modern hobby originated on Dartmoor, England, in the 1850s, but has spread globally, particularly in North America.
The activity of hiding and finding containers or clues in outdoor locations using GPS coordinates or written clues.
Letterboxing is usually informal, technical in register.
Letterboxing: in British English it is pronounced /ˈlɛtəbɒksɪŋ/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈlɛtərbɑːksɪŋ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “It's like letterboxing for adults”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a LETTER being hidden in a BOX in the woods, or a wide movie LETTER being squeezed into a TV BOX.
Conceptual Metaphor
CONTAINER (box as location for message/item), FRAME (cinematic framing as a box)
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary activity involved in the hobby 'letterboxing'?