Mailed vs. Mail — What's the Difference?
Edited by Tayyaba Rehman — By Fiza Rafique — Updated on May 10, 2024
"Mailed" refers to an action completed in the past, typically involving sending an item through a postal service, while "mail" can be a noun (referring to the items sent) or a verb (the act of sending them).
Difference Between Mailed and Mail
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
"Mailed" is the past tense and past participle of the verb "mail," indicating that an item has been sent through a postal service. This term specifically relates to actions completed at a previous time. On the other hand, "mail" can function as both a noun and a verb. As a noun, it refers to letters, packages, and other items sent via postal services. As a verb, it signifies the act of sending these items.
"Mailed" is used in contexts where the action of sending mail has already occurred. It implies a completed transaction, such as a letter that has been dispatched. Whereas "mail" as a noun encompasses all items that are in the process of being sent or have been sent, and as a verb, it represents the ongoing or future action of sending these items.
"Mailed" often appears in passive constructions, such as "The package was mailed yesterday." This usage highlights the action’s completion without specifying the sender. On the other hand, "mail" in verb form is active, such as "I will mail the package today," indicating the sender's direct involvement in the action.
"Mailed" conveys a sense of finality and is commonly used in formal or tracking contexts, where the precision of the action's timing is crucial. Meanwhile, "mail" as a noun is more general and can refer to the entire system of dispatching and receiving letters and packages, not tied to any specific time frame.
Comparison Chart
Part of Speech
Verb (past tense and past participle)
Noun or verb
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Usage
Indicates completed action of sending
As a noun: items sent; as a verb: act of sending
Example Context
"The letters were mailed last week."
Noun: "I received your mail."; Verb: "I will mail the letters."
Time Reference
Past; action has already been completed
Present or future for verb; general for noun
Construction
Often passive (e.g., was mailed)
Active when used as a verb; descriptive when used as a noun
Compare with Definitions
Mailed
Completed the sending process.
Your application has been mailed successfully.
Electronic mail or email.
I'll send the details by mail.
Mailed
Passed through electronic mail.
The notice was mailed to all employees yesterday.
Letters, packages, and other items sent via postal services.
I checked the mail this morning.
Mailed
Sent through a postal service.
The invitation was mailed two weeks ago.
To send something through the postal service.
I will mail your package tomorrow.
Mailed
Used in passive constructions to describe sending.
The gifts were mailed before the holiday.
A type of armored clothing.
Knights wore chain mail for protection.
Mailed
Dispatched to a recipient via the postal system.
The documents were mailed with urgency.
The system or process of sending letters and packages.
The mail system can be slow.
Mailed
Covered with or made of plates of mail
A mailed sleeve.
The mail or post is a system for physically transporting postcards, letters, and parcels. A postal service can be private or public, though many governments place restrictions on private systems.
Mailed
Having a hard covering of scales, spines, or horny plate, as an armadillo or a lobster.
Letters and parcels sent by post
I did not receive any mail
Mailed
Simple past tense and past participle of mail
Armour made of metal rings or plates joined together flexibly
A coat of mail
He had a mail shirt
Mailed
Simple past tense and past participle of mail
Send (a letter or parcel) by post
Three editions were mailed to our members
Mailed
Armoured in, protected by, or made of mail.
Clothe or cover with mail
A mailed gauntlet
Mailed
(rare) Resembling the scales of armor.
Materials, such as letters and packages, handled in a postal system
The volume of mail increases around the holidays.
Mailed
Protected by an external coat, or covering, of scales or plates.
Postal material for a specific person or organization
Could you pick up my mail at the office?.
Mailed
Spotted; speckled.
Material processed for distribution from a post office at a specified time
Delivered the morning mail around town.
Mailed
Wearing protective mail
A postal system. Used with the, sometimes in the plural
Used the mail to send the supplies.
Advertisements sent through the mails.
Chiefly British A vehicle by which mail is transported.
Mail or messages sent electronically; email.
Flexible armor composed of small overlapping metal rings, loops of chain, or scales.
The protective covering of certain animals, as the shell of a turtle.
Rent, payment, or tribute.
To send by a postal system
Mailed the letter yesterday.
To send letters and other material by a postal system.
To cover or armor with mail.
A bag or wallet.
A bag containing letters to be delivered by post.
The material conveyed by the postal service.
Don't forget to pick up the mail on your way.
(dated) A stagecoach, train or ship that delivers such post.
The postal service or system in general.
He decided to send his declaration by mail.
The letters, parcels, etc. delivered to a particular address or person.
(uncountable) Electronic mail, e-mail: a computer network–based service for sending, storing, and forwarding electronic messages.
A trunk, box, or bag, in which clothing, etc., may be carried.
(uncountable) Armour consisting of metal rings or plates linked together.
(nautical) A contrivance of interlinked rings, for rubbing off the loose hemp on lines and white cordage.
Any hard protective covering of an animal, as the scales and plates of reptiles, shell of a lobster, etc.
A spot on a bird's feather; by extension, a spotted feather.
(historical) An old French coin worth half a denier.
A monetary payment or tribute.
Rent.
Tax.
(ditransitive) To send (a letter, parcel, etc.) through the mail.
(ditransitive) To send by electronic mail.
Please mail me the spreadsheet by the end of the day.
(transitive) To arm with mail.
(transitive) To pinion.
A spot.
A small piece of money; especially, an English silver half-penny of the time of Henry V.
Rent; tribute.
A flexible fabric made of metal rings interlinked. It was used especially for defensive armor.
Hence generally, armor, or any defensive covering.
A contrivance of interlinked rings, for rubbing off the loose hemp on lines and white cordage.
Any hard protective covering of an animal, as the scales and plates of reptiles, shell of a lobster, etc.
We . . . strip the lobster of his scarlet mail.
A bag; a wallet.
The bag or bags with the letters, papers, or other matter contained therein, conveyed under public authority from one post office to another; the whole system of appliances used by government in the conveyance and delivery of mail matter.
There is a mail come in to-day, with letters dated Hague.
That which comes in the mail; letters, etc., received through the post office.
A trunk, box, or bag, in which clothing, etc., may be carried.
To arm with mail.
To pinion.
To deliver into the custody of the postoffice officials, or place in a government letter box, for transmission by mail; to post; as, to mail a letter.
The bags of letters and packages that are transported by the postal service
The system whereby messages are transmitted via the post office;
The mail handles billions of items every day
He works for the United States mail service
In England they call mail `the post'
A conveyance that transports mail
Any particular collection of letters or packages that is delivered;
Your mail is on the table
Is there any post for me?
She was opening her post
(Middle Ages) flexible armor made of interlinked metal rings
Send via the postal service;
I'll mail you the check tomorrow
Cause to be directed or transmitted to another place;
Send me your latest results
I'll mail you the paper when it's written
Common Curiosities
Can "mail" be used as a verb?
Yes, "mail" can be used as a verb meaning to send something through the postal service.
What does "mailed" mean?
"Mailed" is the past tense of "mail," indicating that something has already been sent through the postal service.
What is the difference between "mailed" and "mail" in terms of tense?
"Mailed" is used for actions that have already been completed (past tense), while "mail" as a verb refers to either current or future actions.
Can "mail" refer to email?
Yes, "mail" can also refer to electronic mail, commonly known as email.
How is "mail" used as a noun?
As a noun, "mail" refers to the letters, packages, and other items that are sent through a postal service.
How does the usage of "mailed" differ in formal and informal contexts?
"Mailed" is more formal, often used in legal, business, or postal tracking contexts.
Is "mail" used differently in American and British English?
The usage is largely the same, though there might be slight differences in colloquial expressions.
Is there an electronic context for "mailed" and "mail"?
Yes, both can refer to electronic mail (email), with "mailed" indicating that an email has been sent and "mail" referring to the emails themselves or the act of sending them.
Who typically uses the term "mailed"?
"Mailed" is commonly used in formal communications, postal services, and tracking contexts.
What is chain mail?
Chain mail is a type of armor made of small metal rings linked together, historically worn by knights.
What kind of mail can be mailed?
Anything from letters, cards, packages, to electronic communications can be mailed.
What should you check if you haven't received something that was mailed?
Check the postal tracking information or contact the sender to ensure it was sent correctly.
What is the passive form of "mail"?
The passive form of "mail" is "is mailed," "was mailed," or "will be mailed."
How can the completion of mailing be confirmed?
Confirmation can typically be obtained through tracking numbers or delivery confirmations provided by postal services.
How do electronic systems use "mail"?
Electronic systems use "mail" to refer to email services and functions.
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Written by
Fiza RafiqueFiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
Edited by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
