A method of sending and receiving messages electronically over the internet
I sent an e-mail to my boss about the project deadline.
She checked her e-mail for any important updates.
The term is often written as 'email' without the hyphen in modern usage.
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💡Pro Tip
Modern Usage
The hyphen in 'e-mail' is increasingly omitted in favor of 'email' in both formal and informal contexts.
⚡Gold Rule
Hyphenation
While 'e-mail' was historically correct, 'email' is now the preferred form in most style guides.
📖Word Origin
From 'electronic mail', combining 'electronic' (relating to technology) and 'mail' (traditional postal service). The hyphenated form was common in early usage but has largely been replaced by the unhyphenated 'email'.
📝Usage Notes
While 'e-mail' was the standard form in the past, 'email' (without the hyphen) is now widely accepted and preferred in most style guides. The term is used interchangeably with 'electronic mail' in formal contexts.