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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.


form letter British  

noun

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

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of form letter

An Americanism dating back to 1905–10

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

Many patients learn about their dense breast tissue during their annual screening mammogram exam or in the form letter they receive afterward.

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

“I decided to resign or retire freely and voluntarily after considering my options … ” a district resignation/retirement form letter signed by Kohberger read.

From Seattle Times Apr. 28, 2023

The next morning, I found a form letter on my bedside table.

From "The Lightning Thief" by Rick Riordan

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