form letter

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.

form letter

noun

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of form letter¹

An Americanism dating back to 1905–10

Example Sentences

Lin ruled that the NIH grants were suspended by form letters that were unspecific to the research, a likely violation of the Administrative Procedure Act, which regulates executive branch rulemaking.

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They also argued their funding was removed through the use of generic form letters with no explanation.

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They did so through form letters that said the grants “no longer effectuate ... agency priorities.”

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In canceling the grants, the Trump administration had sent out form letters that cited a list of factors that may or may not have contributed to the cancellation of the grant, according to the lawsuit.

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They grabbed pan dulce and coffee, fact sheets and a form letter arguing in favor of Carrillo’s proposed legislation, and vented about what they claimed was decades of political neglect.

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