mail order

¹ American  

noun

1. an order for goods received or shipped through the mail.

2. the business of selling merchandise through the mail.

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mail-order ² American  

[meyl-awr-der] / ˈmeɪlˌɔr dər /

adjective

1. pertaining to or obtained by mail order.

   a dozen mail-order rosebushes.

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verb (used with object)

1. to order (merchandise) by mail.

   to mail-order fruitcakes for Christmas.

mail order British  

noun

1. an order for merchandise sent by post

2. 1. a system of buying and selling merchandise through the post

   2. ( as modifier )

      a mail-order firm

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Etymology

Origin of mail order¹

An Americanism dating back to 1865–70

Origin of mail-order¹

First recorded in 1865–70

Example Sentences

In some cases, there is no coupon, and patients can purchase their medication from the drugmaker’s website “or through a limited set of mail order pharmacies,” according to TrumpRx.

From MarketWatch

She now has a team of 14 in the bakery, sends her biscuits all over the country, and has partnered with a mail order flower firm.

From BBC

To determine whether a pharmacy service was mail order, in-person or another type, the analysis used the classification listed in the record of each prescription.

From The Wall Street Journal

The show follows Susan and Jenny who reminisce over clothes, boys and music - in a time where the height of technology and fashion were phone boxes, mail order catalogues and crispy pancakes.

From BBC

These tops were sold strictly by mail order within punk magazines.

From Los Angeles Times