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.

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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

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• mailboxes
  plural

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Etymology

Origin of mailbox

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

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

mailbox mailboxes

The agent is fictional, the heroes were erased, and just about the only thing I found factual was the re-creation of Kaczynski’s mailbox.

From Salon ● Oct. 4, 2026

The new system will also feature real-time status updates so you don’t have to keep checking your mailbox ahead of an international trip.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 2, 2026

"She likes to go to go to the mailbox, and she's like, 'Ms Dolly! Ms Dolly!' and I'm like, 'Well, let's go see if Ms Dolly sent you a book!'"

From BBC ● Aug. 29, 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

I came to the US mailbox just beyond the bookstore and straddled my bike.

From "The Line Tender" by Kate Allen

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 already have started to arrive in California voters’ mailboxes ahead of the Nov. 3 election.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 7, 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

We spent the rest of the morning choreographing steps around fire hydrants and mailboxes.

From "Native Speaker" by Chang-rae Lee

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