Etymologically
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newsletter

This is the current revision of this entry, as edited by bogdan on 22 October 2026 at 21:49. This address is a permanent link to this version.
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Pronunciation

  • UK: /ˈnjuːzˌlɛtə/[1]
  • US: /ˈn(j)uzˌlɛtɚ/[1]

Etymology

It was formed from English news + letter in English.[2][3][4]

Earliest recorded meaning

A letter written to pass on news, especially one written and sent out to report the news of the day, as was common in the later 17th century: 1665, in the records of Stirling,[2][5] the 1670s in Etymonline.[3]

Semantic evolution

The handwritten newsletters of the 17th century were overtaken by printed newspapers, and the word fell out of use until it was revived in the 20th century.[3][2] Its modern sense, a fairly informal printed report of news or information sent out regularly to subscribers or members of an organization, is recorded in the OED from 1961,[2] and now also covers such reports sent by email.[2]

Timeline

  • 1665 – a letter conveying news.[2][5]
  • 1961 – a periodical bulletin for members or subscribers.[2]

Modern meaning

Noun

  1. A bulletin of news or information sent regularly to the members of a society or organization, or to subscribers: The club posts a monthly newsletter to every member.
  2. (historical) A written or printed account of the news, sent out as a letter.

References

  1. ^ a b Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f g Oxford English Dictionary Online (accessed March 2026), Oxford: Oxford University Press
  3. ^ a b c Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  4. ^ Dictionary.com Unabridged (2016), based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, New York: Random House
  5. ^ a b Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary (2024), online ed., Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster