junk mail

n.
Third-class mail, such as advertisements, mailed indiscriminately in large quantities.

Derogatory term used colloquially for promotional mail. The term is most often used by persons who object to receiving unsolicited mail from someone they do not know or do business with. It is not considered an acceptable term in the direct-mail industry. However, one industry speaker, Coleman Hoyt of Reader's Digest, used it quite effectively by saying that junk mail represents all of the undeliverable incorrectly addressed mail that is sent.

Unsolicited mail often distributed by mass marketers. This mail usually is sent third class mail to reduce mailing cost. Junk mail can be a nuisance in that it creates waste, can be confused with higher-priority mail, and is time-consuming to sort through.

Third-class mail, such as unsolicited advertisements and flyers, that is sent indiscriminately. For example, While we were on vacation the front hall filled up with junk mail. [c. 1950]

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The noun has one meaning:

Meaning #1: third-class mail consisting of advertising and often addressed to `resident' or `occupant'

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junk mail shredder