📪️
Closed Mailbox with Lowered Flag
klohzd MAYL-boks with LOW-erd flag
Definitions
1
Communication · Mail
Common
Represents a closed mailbox with its flag down, indicating mail has been collected or there is no outgoing mail to be picked up.
Used to indicate mail has been checked, delivery completed, or no new messages are available.
Just checked the mail, nothing today 📪️
Personal messaging
Email inbox finally cleared 📪️ Feels good!
Work chat
In the US and similar postal systems, a lowered flag traditionally signals to mail carriers that there's no outgoing mail to collect.
2
Status · Completion
Uncommon
Metaphorically represents completion, emptiness, or a task being finished, particularly in digital contexts.
Often used to indicate an empty inbox, completed correspondence, or finished communication tasks.
Finally responded to all my messages 📪️
Social media
The concept of an empty mailbox has evolved to represent digital task completion in modern communication.
Evolution Timeline
2010
Introduced in Unicode 6.0 as part of the initial emoji standards
Growing need for communication-related symbols in digital messaging
2015
Usage expanded to metaphorically represent email inbox management
Increasing digital communication replacing physical mail
Cultural Context
As physical mail declines, this emoji has partially shifted to represent digital message management, particularly email inbox status.
The mailbox design with a flag is primarily American, making this emoji more directly relatable in the US than in countries with different postal systems.
Regional Variations
United Kingdom
Less directly relatable as UK mailboxes don't typically have flags; may be interpreted more metaphorically.
United States
Commonly understood as representing the American-style rural mailbox with a flag that signals outgoing mail.
Generational Usage
Gen_X: More likely to use literally to indicate actual mail delivery status or checking the mailbox.
Gen_Z: Rarely used literally; more often employed metaphorically for digital communication completion or 'zero inbox' achievement.
Older: Primarily used literally to communicate about physical mail delivery, rarely in metaphorical contexts.
Millennials: Used both literally for physical mail and metaphorically for email management, particularly in work contexts.
Common Combinations
📪️✓
Mail checked and nothing important received
Indicates completion of checking mail or messages
📪️😌
Relief at having an empty inbox or no new messages
Expresses satisfaction at being caught up with correspondence
📪️🏡
Home mail delivery completed or checked
Specifically references residential mail delivery