junk mail

American  

noun

1. unsolicited commercial mail or email.

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junk mail British  

noun

1. untargeted mail advertising goods or services

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junk mail Idioms  

1. Third-class mail, such as unsolicited advertisements and flyers, that is sent indiscriminately. For example, While we were on vacation the front hall filled up with junk mail. [c. 1950]

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Etymology

Origin of junk mail

First recorded in 1950–55

Example Sentences

Chip took his time about reaching in, drawing out the stacks of letters and magazines and junk mail.

From Literature

My email inbox is starting to resemble the mailbox at my front door: stuffed full with junk mail and promos, with an important note tucked in here and there.

From The Wall Street Journal

However, he said he did not remember seeing the email, and he thinks it must have gone into his junk mail.

From BBC

Tags, receipts, ticket stubs, candy wrappers, even junk mail — they’re all gold for a junk journal.

From Los Angeles Times

Rice missed the initial notice in the mail, he said, possibly tossing out the letter thinking it was junk mail.

From Los Angeles Times