philately

[ fi-lat-l-ee ]

/ fɪˈlæt l i /

Save This Word!

noun

the collecting of stamps and other postal matter as a hobby or an investment.

the study of postage stamps, revenue stamps, stamped envelopes, postmarks, postal cards, covers, and similar material relating to postal or fiscal history.

QUIZ

ARE YOU A TRUE BLUE CHAMPION OF THESE "BLUE" SYNONYMS?

We could talk until we're blue in the face about this quiz on words for the color "blue," but we think you should take the quiz and find out if you're a whiz at these colorful terms.

Question 1 of 8

Which of the following words describes “sky blue”?

navy

beryl

azure

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Meet Grammar Coach

Write or paste your essay, email, or story into Grammar Coach and get grammar help

Improve Your Writing

Meet Grammar CoachImprove Your Writing

Origin of philately

1860–65; <French philatélie<Greek phil-phil- + atéleia freedom from charges (taken to mean recipient's freedom from delivery charges by virtue of the stamp which sender affixed to the letter), literally, want of taxation, equivalent to a-a-⁶ + tél(os) tax + -eia-y³

OTHER WORDS FROM philately

phil·a·tel·ic

[fil-uh-tel-ik], /ˌfɪl əˈtɛl ɪk/, phil·a·tel·i·cal, adjectivephil·a·tel·i·cal·ly, adverbphi·lat·e·list

[fi-lat-l-ist], /fɪˈlæt l ɪst/, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021

How to use philately in a sentence

This unfortunate issue was generally received with approval by the Philatelic press.
History of the Postage Stamps of the United States of America|John Kerr Tiffany
Reports of the proceedings of the leading American philatelic societies.
History of the Postage Stamps of the United States of America|John Kerr Tiffany
The work is limited to 500 copies and when completed will be the greatest philatelic work ever published.
History of the Postage Stamps of the United States of America|John Kerr Tiffany
Contributed to, by the leading philatelic writers of the day, including, Major Edw.
History of the Postage Stamps of the United States of America|John Kerr Tiffany

I do not think Portugal will find it very profitable, as collectors are growing shy of philatelic trash.
Harper's Round Table, August 20, 1895|Various

British Dictionary definitions for philately

philately

/ (fɪˈlætəlɪ) /

noun

the collection and study of postage stamps and all related material concerned with postal history

Derived forms of philately

philatelic (ˌfɪləˈtɛlɪk), adjectivephilatelically, adverbphilatelist, noun

Word Origin for philately

C19: from French philatélie, from philo- + Greek ateleia exemption from charges (here referring to stamps), from a- 1 + telos tax, payment

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