pen pal

noun

Synonyms of pen palnext
: a friend made and kept through correspondence

Examples of pen pal in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The paper is keepsake quality, so expect your pen pal to keep your letter forever. — Catherine Garcia, TheWeek, 13 Feb. 2026 This may entail weekly video calls, yearly visits, or even a pen pal type exchange via traditional mail. — ​wendy Wisner, Parents, 7 Mar. 2026 Luna cited examples of crackdowns on Monday, including a bust on an incarcerated man running a prostitution ring from prison through a pen pal system. — Austin Turner, CBS News, 3 Feb. 2026 Millennials and Gen Z are driving a big chunk of that growth, part of a broader analog trend that has people swapping streaming for vinyl, iPhones for film cameras, and Instagram for pen pals. — Avery Newmark, AJC.com, 20 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for pen pal

Word History

First Known Use

1925, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of pen pal was in 1925

Rhymes for pen pal

See All Rhymes for pen pal

Browse Nearby Words

penorcon
pen pal
pen palsy
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Pen pal.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pen%20pal. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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Kids Definition

pen pal

noun
: a friend made and kept through letter-writing

More from Merriam-Webster on pen pal

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for pen pal

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