Faxed vs Sent

When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.

Faxed

Beyond 10,000 (less common)

Sent

Top 1,000 (very common)

Most common: Sent

	Faxed	Sent
Pronunciation	🇬🇧 //fæksd// 🇺🇸 //fæksd//	🇬🇧 //sɛnt// 🇺🇸 //sɛnt//
Meaning	Sent a document using a fax machine.	Gave something to someone using a message or delivery.
Example	I faxed the agreement to the client this morning.	I sent the package yesterday.
Register	Neutral	Neutral
How common	Beyond 10,000 (less common)	Top 1,000 (very common)
Collocations	faxed document, faxed agreement, faxed report, faxed copy	sent a message, sent an email, sent a request, sent a letter
Antonyms	received, printed	received, withheld
Common mistakes	Confused with 'faxing' as a noun rather than a verb., Using 'faxed' in non-business contexts where email is preferred., Assuming 'fax' only refers to sending, not receiving documents.	Used 'send' instead of 'sent' for past tense., 'Sent' confused with 'scent' or 'cent'., Omitted the recipient or object in the sentence.
Usage notes	Commonly used in business contexts. Less relevant today with emails, but still applicable in formal communications requiring signatures.	Use 'sent' in past contexts. Formal for written communication, informal for casual messages.

See it in real clips

The Pitt › S1 E1

Nursing home just faxed us a DNR.

Faxed

- I sent him to Franklin and Erie. - Got it.

Agatha Christies Poirot › S1 E1

but this morning, if you please, she sent for her box.

I was sent by a friend of Johnny Fontane.

- I sent him to Franklin and Erie. - Got it.

Agatha Christies Poirot › S1 E1

but this morning, if you please, she sent for her box.

Sent

Frequently asked questions: Faxed vs Sent

What's the difference between Faxed and Sent?

Faxed: Sent a document using a fax machine. Sent: Gave something to someone using a message or delivery.

Which is more common: Faxed and Sent?

Sent is the most common in everyday English.

Can you show an example of each?

Faxed: I faxed the agreement to the client this morning. Sent: I sent the package yesterday.

Can I use Faxed and Sent interchangeably?

Not always. Faxed and Sent are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.