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definitions

general delivery

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR general delivery ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

a postal service that delivers mail to a specific post office where it is held for pickup by the addressee.
the postal department that handles such mail.

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RELATED WORDS

post

Nearby words

  1. general aviation,
  2. general certificate of education,
  3. general certificate of secondary education,
  4. general court,
  5. general court-martial,
  6. general discharge,
  7. general duty nurse,
  8. general election,
  9. general headquarters,
  10. general hospital

Origin of general delivery

An Americanism dating back to 1830–40
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

British Dictionary definitions for general delivery

general delivery

noun US and Canadian

an address on mail indicating that it should be kept at a specified post office until collected by the addressee
the mail-delivery service or post-office department that handles mail having this address
Also called (not in the US or Canada): poste restante
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012