English dictionary

letters Meaning & Definition

ˈle-tər

What Does Letters Mean?

Letters is used as a noun meaning a symbol usually written or printed representing a speech sound and constituting a unit of an alphabet. It is also used to mean a direct or personal written or printed message addressed to a person or organization. As a verb, it means to set down in letters.

Letters at a Glance

Part of speech	noun, verb
Pronunciation	/ˈle-tər/
Syllables	2
Synonyms	dispatches, epistles and memorandums
Antonyms	lessees, lodgers and roomers

Letters Definition (Noun)

a symbol usually written or printed representing a speech sound and constituting a unit of an alphabet
a direct or personal written or printed message addressed to a person or organization
a written communication containing a grant
literature, belles lettres
learning
the strict or outward sense or significance
the letter of the law
a single piece of type
a style of type
the initial of a school awarded to a student for achievement usually in athletics

Letters as a Verb

to set down in letters : print
to mark with letters
to win an athletic letter

Noun

one that rents or leases

Synonyms of Letters

dispatches epistles memorandums memos missives notes landlords lessors renters dispatch epistle memo memorandum missive note landlord lessor renter

Letters synonyms and antonyms →

Antonyms of Letters

lessees lodgers roomers tenants lessee lodger roomer tenant

Letters in a Sentence

Rickert was the first woman (and second individual) to be awarded a Ph.D. in English letters and philology with that academic honor at the University of Chicago.

Though architecture in ancient Rome was not generally considered to belong to the artes liberales, Vitruvius easily qualified as a man of letters because of his wide learning.

There are twenty-six letters in the English alphabet.

I wrote a letter to my sister about my life.

Benjamin Franklin was multiskilled – a scientist, politician and a man of letters.

a blood-letter

the letter of the law

he faithfully wrote her a letter every week they were apart

it is the letter of the apartment—not the lessee—who is responsible for basic repair and upkeep

Word Forms & Grammar

letter

letters

let·tered

let·ter·ing

let·ters

let·ter·er noun

lettered

letterer

letterers

lettering

Words That Rhyme With Letters

fetters bettorsin fettersdebtors betters petters setters netters gettersget hersettershenriette herzlet hersmet hers newsletters pipetters sweaters

Origin of Letters

Middle English, from Anglo-French lettre, from Latin littera letter of the alphabet, litterae, plural, epistle, literature

First Known Use

13th century

1504t

1552

How to Pronounce Letters

The standard pronunciation of letters is /ˈle-tər/, spoken in 2 syllables, with the main stress on the first syllable (le).

Letters: Your Questions Answered

Is letters a noun or a verb?

Letters is mainly used as a noun, but it can also be used as a verb.

What is another word for letters?

Close synonyms of letters are dispatches, epistles and memorandums. See the full list of letters synonyms and antonyms.