junk email

noun

variants or less commonly junk e-mail
: spam in email form
… let's face it, we're all inundated by way too much junk email, and getting off those mailing lists can be a hassle …Rick Broida

Examples of junk email in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Cyber Promotions quickly became so hated that a dozen Internet service providers, including AOL, sued Wallace in the late 1990s, each hoping to halt his flood of junk e-mail despite the lack of antispam laws at the time. Nate Anderson, Ars Technica, 28 Dec. 2020 Host shall have no liability for a winner's failure to receive notices due to winners' spam, junk e-mail or other security settings or for winners' provision of incorrect or otherwise non-functioning contact information. The Cut, 5 June 2018

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'junk email.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1985, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of junk email was in 1985

Dictionary Entries Near junk email

Cite this Entry

“Junk email.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/junk%20email. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

junk e-mail

noun
: spam
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