pen pal
Noun
Meaning
a person you come to know by frequent friendly correspondence
Source: WordNetAlternative names
pen-pal
Synonyms
Antonyms
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Examples
Another term used to describe pen pal is the word penfriend.
He arrives from his Midwest hometown to Boston, to see Coach, his " pen pal " (as referring to exchanging "pens", not letters).
In recent years, pen pal correspondence with prison inmates has gained acceptance on the Internet.
In the 1970s, syndicated children's television program Big Blue Marble often invited viewers to write to them for their own pen pal.
It is considered common courtesy to pass the friendship books on to another pen pal as quickly as possible.
Many pen pal newsletters do not publish prison pen pal ads because these communications require more caution, not simple friendships.