certified mail

American  

noun

1. uninsured first-class mail requiring proof of delivery.

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Etymology

Origin of certified mail

First recorded in 1950–55

Example Sentences

Use certified mail, registered mail, or an approved private delivery service like FedEx or UPS, not labels from self-service kiosks or postage meters.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 20, 2026

If you must mail an important or large payment, it might be wise to pay for tracking — certified mail, for example, or a signature confirmation upon delivery — as a safeguard.

From New York Times • Jan. 7, 2024

Also increasing would be the cost of domestic and international postcards, one-ounce international letters, certified mail, post office box rentals, money order fees and mailing insurance.

From Washington Times • Apr. 10, 2023

Attorneys for Paris and the Baxters then sent notice of service by certified mail to 10 Scientology addresses in Clearwater and California, according to court records.

From Seattle Times • Dec. 29, 2022

If you want to know when the Copyright Office receives your material, send it by registered or certified mail and request a return receipt from the U.S.

From Supplementary Copyright Statutes, US Copy. Office by Library of Congress. Copyright Office