Email · Website glossary

Email bounce

Quick answer · What is Email bounce?

A delivery failure notification generated when a message cannot be delivered as expected.

IN PRACTICE

Email bounce: an example

A sender receives a report explaining that a recipient address was rejected.

KEEP IN MIND

Read the actual status and diagnostic text; not every bounce means the address is permanently unusable.

Put the idea to work

Frequently asked questions

What is a practical example of Email bounce?

A sender receives a report explaining that a recipient address was rejected.

Does every bounce mean the recipient address is permanently unusable?

Read the actual status and diagnostic text; not every bounce means the address is permanently unusable.

Which concepts should I read alongside Email bounce?

SMTP status code: A server reply code describing the result of a step in an SMTP exchange.
Email deliverability: The practical ability of legitimate mail to reach its intended destination, including acceptance and placement decisions by receiving systems.