A1 noun Neutral #2,560 most common

envelope

/ˈenvələʊp/

A flat paper container used to send letters or cards through the mail. It usually has a flap that you fold and stick down to close it.

Examples

3 of 5
1

I need to buy a white envelope for my grandmother's birthday card.

I need to buy a white envelope for my grandmother's birthday card.

2

Please ensure the application is placed inside a sealed envelope.

Please ensure the application is placed inside a sealed envelope.

3

Just grab any old envelope and write the phone number on the back.

Just grab any old envelope and write the phone number on the back.

Word Family

Noun
envelope
Verb
envelop
Adjective
enveloped
Related
envelopment
💡

Memory Tip

An Envelope is for Electronic mail's older brother: regular mail.

Quick Quiz

Don't forget to write the address on the ____ before you mail it.

Correct!

The correct answer is: envelope

Examples

1

I need to buy a white envelope for my grandmother's birthday card.

everyday

I need to buy a white envelope for my grandmother's birthday card.

2

Please ensure the application is placed inside a sealed envelope.

formal

Please ensure the application is placed inside a sealed envelope.

3

Just grab any old envelope and write the phone number on the back.

informal

Just grab any old envelope and write the phone number on the back.

4

The data collected from the participants was kept in a secure, labeled envelope.

academic

The data collected from the participants was kept in a secure, labeled envelope.

5

Please include a stamped return envelope with your signed contract.

business

Please include a stamped return envelope with your signed contract.

Word Family

Noun
envelope
Verb
envelop
Adjective
enveloped
Related
envelopment

Common Collocations

stamped envelope an envelope with a postage stamp attached
sealed envelope an envelope that has been closed shut
padded envelope an envelope with soft lining to protect the contents
open an envelope to break the seal of an envelope to see what is inside
return envelope an envelope provided for sending a reply back

Common Phrases

push the envelope

to go beyond the normal limits of what is possible

back-of-the-envelope calculation

a quick, rough estimation

under plain cover/envelope

sent in a way that does not show what is inside

Often Confused With

envelope vs envelop

Envelop (without the 'e') is a verb meaning to wrap or cover something completely, whereas envelope is the noun for the paper container.

📝

Usage Notes

The word 'envelope' is a countable noun. It is most commonly used in the context of sending mail or storing flat documents.

⚠️

Common Mistakes

Learners often forget the final 'e' in the noun form, writing 'envelop' instead of 'envelope'.

💡

Memory Tip

An Envelope is for Electronic mail's older brother: regular mail.

📖

Word Origin

From the French word 'envelopper', meaning to wrap, cover, or surround.

Grammar Patterns

Countable noun: one envelope, two envelopes Often follows the preposition 'in': 'The check is in the envelope.'
🌍

Cultural Context

In many cultures, specifically in East Asia, money is traditionally given in red envelopes during holidays or special occasions.

Quick Quiz

Don't forget to write the address on the ____ before you mail it.

Correct!

The correct answer is: envelope

Related Words

homovestency

C1

Refers to the practice or state of wearing clothing that corresponds to one's own biological sex or gender identity. It is a technical term used primarily in psychological and sociological contexts to distinguish traditional dressing habits from cross-dressing or transvestism.

binavent

C1

To divide a single process, stream, or strategy into two distinct but parallel channels or outcomes. It is primarily used in technical or procedural contexts to describe the intentional and strategic splitting of resources or workflows to increase efficiency or manage complexity.

subclamious

C1

Describing a sound or environment that is moderately noisy or somewhat clamorous. It refers to a level of vocalization or background noise that is audible and potentially disruptive but falls short of a full, overwhelming clamor.

autographhood

C1

The state, quality, or condition of being an autograph or a handwritten original document. It refers to the status of a text or signature as having been personally inscribed by the individual it is attributed to.

prologcide

C1

Describing an action, policy, or mindset that involves the intentional destruction, removal, or bypassing of a prologue or introductory phase. It characterizes anything that seeks to eliminate the 'start' to reach the core or conclusion immediately.

inlegal

C1

A non-standard or archaic variation of the word 'illegal', referring to actions or conditions that are prohibited by law or official regulations. In modern English, it is primarily used as a distractor in language proficiency tests or found in non-native speech before prefix assimilation occurs.

hyperfacsion

C1

Describing a state of extreme fragmentation or division within a group, organization, or political body into numerous, often hostile, competing factions. It implies a level of discord where constructive cooperation is paralyzed by excessive micro-divisions.

dispetism

C1

To engage in a systematic and often petty rejection of established norms or authoritative directives. It describes the act of obstructing progress through deliberate non-compliance or by treating formal requirements with calculated contempt.

interautoite

C1

To automatically synchronize or integrate multiple autonomous systems or self-regulating processes into a unified whole. It is used to describe the seamless interaction between independent units that function without external intervention.

autolaudible

C1

Describing speech, writing, or behavior that is characterized by self-praise or self-commendation. It refers to the act of highlighting one's own merits or achievements, often used in a critical sense to imply vanity.

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