metered mail: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1formal, technical (postal services, business)
Quick answer
What does “metered mail” mean?
Postal mail on which postage is printed directly by an approved postage meter machine, rather than using adhesive stamps.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
Postal mail on which postage is printed directly by an approved postage meter machine, rather than using adhesive stamps.
A system for bulk mail handling where postage is paid in advance via a meter that prints an indicia on the envelope or label, often used by businesses for efficiency.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The term is used in both variants, but the spelling of 'metered' (US) vs. 'metred' (UK) is the primary difference. However, the postal term itself is most commonly spelled 'metered' in official UK postal contexts as well, following the machine name ('postage meter').
Connotations
Connotes business, official, or bulk mailing. In the UK, the equivalent concept is often simply referred to as 'using a postage meter'.
Frequency
More frequent in American English, particularly in business contexts. In British everyday use, the specific term is less common than describing the process ('we sent it using the meter').
Grammar
How to Use “metered mail” in a Sentence
The company [verbs: sends/dispatches/processes] meter mail.Meter mail [verbs: requires/uses/bears] a printed indicia.We pay for postage via [prepositional phrase: by means of/using] meter mail.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “metered mail” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- We need to meter that batch of letters before collection.
- Have you metered the overseas parcels?
American English
- We need to meter that batch of letters before pickup.
- Have you metered the international packages?
adverb
British English
- [Not a standard adverbial form for this term]
American English
- [Not a standard adverbial form for this term]
adjective
British English
- The metered mail goes in the blue sack.
- Please use a metered mail label.
American English
- The metered mail goes in the blue bin.
- Please use a metered mail label.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Standard for referring to efficient, bulk business correspondence. 'All invoices are sent via meter mail to save time.'
Academic
Rare, except in logistical or historical studies of postal systems.
Everyday
Very low frequency. An individual is unlikely to use the term; they would say 'I used a postage meter' or 'it's franked'.
Technical
Precise term in postal logistics, referring to mail with a meter impression instead of adhesive stamps.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “metered mail”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “metered mail”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “metered mail”
- Misspelling as 'meterred mail' or 'metred mail' in an American context.
- Using it to refer to email or data usage (e.g., 'metered internet').
- Confusing it with 'registered mail' or 'certified mail', which are services about tracking/security, not postage application.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Essentially, yes. 'Franked mail' is a broader term historically meaning mail with a mark signalling postage is paid. Modern meter mail is a type of franked mail.
Typically not, as it requires leasing or owning a postage meter from an authorized provider, which is cost-effective only for regular, bulk mailers like businesses.
It refers to the postage meter machine, a device licensed by postal authorities that mechanically or digitally prints evidence of postage payment (an indicia) onto the mail piece.
The concept is spelled 'meter mail' in both, though the past tense of the verb can be 'metered' (US) or 'metred' (UK). In postal terminology, 'metered' is widely used internationally.
Postal mail on which postage is printed directly by an approved postage meter machine, rather than using adhesive stamps.
Metered mail is usually formal, technical (postal services, business) in register.
Metered mail: in British English it is pronounced /ˈmiːtəd meɪl/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈmiːtɚd meɪl/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[No common idioms specifically for this term]”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a parking METER that prints a ticket; a postage METER prints postage directly onto your MAIL.
Conceptual Metaphor
POSTAGE IS A MEASURED COMMODITY (the meter measures and dispenses a precise amount of postage).
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary characteristic of 'meter mail'?