form letter

American  

noun

1. a standardized letter that can be sent to any number of persons, occasionally personalized by inserting the name of each recipient in the salutation.

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form letter British  

noun

1. a single copy of a letter that has been mechanically reproduced in large numbers for circulation

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Etymology

Origin of form letter

An Americanism dating back to 1905–10

Example Sentences

After my first mammogram, I received the form letter informing me that I was a member of the dense-breast-tissue club.

From Slate • Feb. 4, 2026

Sylvia confirmed she had received a written apology, which she she described as "like a form letter" but had not seen an action plan the trust had been told to provide.

From BBC • Dec. 16, 2025

Apple Music sent a form letter, too, though it included a tantalizing clue: the name of the company that had uploaded the songs.

From New York Times • Jan. 13, 2024

Actor and wellness executive Gwyneth Paltrow signed a form letter to the planning department last fall that said the ordinance “burdens homeowners with unnecessary development regulations.”

From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 30, 2023

The standard form letter appeared on my bed after breakfast, warning me that the cleaning harpies would devour me if I stayed past noon.

From "The Battle of the Labyrinth" by Rick Riordan