letterhead

Meanings

1. 1nouncountablebusiness

   The name, address and logo printed at the top of a sheet of paper used by a business or organization for official letters.

   Grammar: Counted for each design: the company's letterhead.

   Patterns

   • on letterhead
   • the letterhead of somewhere

   The letterhead showed the firm's name and a small blue logo.

   She redesigned the school's letterhead to include its website.

   The address on the letterhead was out of date.

2. 2noununcountablebusiness

   Paper that already has such a heading printed on it, ready for writing official letters.

   Grammar: Used for the stationery itself: print it on letterhead.

   Patterns

   • print something on letterhead
   • write on letterhead

   Please type the offer on company letterhead.

   We ran out of letterhead and had to order more.

   The lawyer sent the notice on firm letterhead.

Word forms

Common combinations

on company letterhead

The reference should be printed on company letterhead.

official letterhead

The reply came on official letterhead from the ministry.

design a letterhead

A local artist will design a letterhead for the charity.

engraved letterhead

The hotel used engraved letterhead for special guests.

letterhead paper

The secretary ordered letterhead paper for the new office.

Synonyms and how they differ

stationery

Stationery covers all writing supplies such as paper and envelopes, while letterhead is the printed heading or the sheet carrying it.

heading

Heading is a general word for any title at the top of text, but letterhead specifically means the printed identity of an organization on paper.

masthead

Masthead is the title block of a newspaper or magazine, while letterhead belongs to letters.

notepaper

Notepaper is just writing paper, which may or may not carry a printed heading like letterhead does.

Word family

letter noun

a written message sent by post, or a symbol of the alphabet

head noun

the top part of something

headed adjective

having a printed heading, as in headed paper

lettering noun

letters drawn or printed in a particular style

Commonly confused: letterhead or letterbox?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “letterhead”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

Explore more words