mailbag

/ˈmeɪlˌbæɡ/

//ˈmeɪlˌbæɡ// noun

By · According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA) ·

"mailbag" is a 7-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“mailbag” is uncommon English (frequency #89,587 among 36,575 “M” headwords), classed as a noun. The kind of spelling people second-guess.

#89,587
frequency rank, English
36,575
“M” headwords

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - A strong canvas bag used for the transportation of mail.

Key facts for mailbag
PropertyValue
Headwordmailbag
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechNoun
IPA/ˈmeɪlˌbæɡ/
Letters7
Frequency rank#89,587
Misspellings tracked0
Confusable pairs0
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “mailbag” sits in English frequency

Every-word frequency runs from the handful of words we use constantly (left) to the long tail used once in a blue moon (right). mailbag lands here:

#1#100#1K#10K#100K
← used constantlyrarely used →

Scale is logarithmic (each tick is 10× rarer). Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

Rare enough to double-check

mailbag is uncommon English at frequency #89,587 among 36,575 “M” headwords, classed as anoun, transcribed /ˈmeɪlˌbæɡ/. Rarity is why readers land here mid-draft. 3 senses are on record.

We couldn't generate a plausible misspelling set for mailbag, typically a sign the spelling maps closely to how the word sounds. This headword has no recorded confusable partner, which usually means its spelling is distinct enough that readers don't reach for a similar-looking word instead.

Etymologically, the entry records: From mail + bag. The correct English form is mailbag, spelled M-A-I-L-B-A-G.

Definition

  1. 1
    A strong canvas bag used for the transportation of mail.
  2. 2
    A smaller bag, slung from the shoulder, used by a mail carrier during the delivery of mail.
  3. 3
    The correspondence received by a publishing entity such as a magazine or website.

Etymology

From mail + bag.

Definitions, pronunciation, and etymology for this entry are drawn from Wiktionary via the kaikki.org structured extract (CC BY-SA); frequency ordering uses the FrequencyWords open word-frequency list (2018 English corpus, MIT). See the methodology for how each field is sourced and updated.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you spell "mailbag"?
"mailbag" is spelled M-A-I-L-B-A-G. The IPA pronunciation is /ˈmeɪlˌbæɡ/.
What does "mailbag" mean?
As a noun, "mailbag" means: A strong canvas bag used for the transportation of mail.
How do you pronounce "mailbag"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "mailbag" is /ˈmeɪlˌbæɡ/. Click the speaker icon on the pronunciation badge above to hear it spoken aloud where audio is available.
What is the origin of the word "mailbag"?
From mail + bag. See the full etymology section above for more details.
Is PlainSpell free to use?
Yes, PlainSpell is a completely free word reference. You can look up definitions, pronunciations, confusable pairs, homophones, and spelling corrections across 5 languages without any sign-up or subscription.

Using “mailbag”

The practical upshot for anyone who landed here from a spell-check.

  • The one correct English spelling is M-A-I-L-B-A-G - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /ˈmeɪlˌbæɡ/ (IPA); tap the speaker on the pronunciation badge to hear it where audio exists.
  • Browse more English words and confusable pairs in the same reference. English words

Other uncommon English words near this rank

Data Source

Wiktionary (via kaikki.org), licensed under CC BY-SA & GFDL. Word ordering uses an open word-frequency list; misspelling variants are generated by edit-distance from the correct headword.

Source: Wiktionary (via kaikki.org) Structured Wiktionary extract

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list FrequencyWords open word-frequency list