junk mail

noun

1. unsolicited commercial mail or email.

junk mail

noun

1. untargeted mail advertising goods or services

Word History and Origins

Origin of junk mail¹

First recorded in 1950–55

Idioms and Phrases

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]

Example Sentences

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

Read more on Los Angeles Times

When she found out the Republican was challenging her vote, “She initially thought that it was junk mail because it was addressed to ‘Amy Bryan or current resident.”

Read more on Salon

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

Read more on Los Angeles Times

A neighbour who worked for the Post Office offered to find out why the couple had not received letters or even junk mail for months.

Read more on BBC

Everything from newspapers and junk mail to paperboard envelopes and cardboard boxes can pile up, especially as internet shopping has exploded in popularity.

Read more on Science Daily