mailbox

American  

[mayl-boks] / ˈmeɪlˌbɒks /

noun

• mailboxes
  plural

1. a public box in which mail is placed for pickup and delivery by the post office.

2. a private box, as at a home, into which mail is delivered by the mail carrier.

3. Computers. a file for storing electronic mail.

---

mailbox British  

/ ˈmeɪlˌbɒks /

noun

1. 1. a slot, usually covered with a hinged flap, through which letters, etc are delivered to a building

   2. Also called (in Britain and certain other countries): letter box. a private box into which letters, etc, are delivered

2. Also called (in Britain and certain other countries): postbox. a public box into which letters, etc, are put for collection and delivery

3. (on a computer) the directory in which e-mail messages are stored; also used of the icon that can be clicked to provide access to e-mails

---

Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• mailboxes
  plural

---

Etymology

Origin of mailbox

First recorded in 1800–10; mail ¹ + box ¹

---

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

mailbox mailboxes

Though the delay from RTO is often only a day, mail can be delayed longer if it’s deposited in a mailbox after the daily pickup time, or just before Sunday or a holiday.

From Salon ● Oct. 24, 2026

These days, Brust and Wray don’t have to look at grocery shelves or the company mailbox to understand their product’s appeal.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 5, 2026

Wes said that Eric was confronted near the mailbox in front of the house on Crane Street.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 11, 2026

If checks need to be mailed, doing it from the post office rather than a mailbox or a blue U.S.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 9, 2026

Previously it took a lot of work to write a letter, address and stamp an envelope, and take it to the mailbox.

From "Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind" by Yuval Noah Harari

Its letters now flood local mailboxes, saying "there is a lot of misinformation and fear that has circulated about data centers and our project."

From Barron's ● Oct. 19, 2026

Ballots will begin arriving in the mailboxes of the state’s 23.2 million voters in days.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 25, 2026

The mayor ruffled feathers again when the 17,000 notices were sent out and he wrote on X that second-home owners should check their mailboxes.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 25, 2026

Police also asked postal workers to report overflowing mailboxes.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 20, 2026

So I don’t think we’ll be staking out any more mailboxes.

From "P.S. I Miss You" by Jen Petro-Roy

Random Word

Spin the wheel and learn a new word!

---