philately

[ fi-lat-l-ee ]

/ fɪˈlæt l i /

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.

Nearby words

philander, philanthropic, philanthropist, philanthropize, philanthropy, philately, philby, philem., philemon, philharmonic, philharmonic pitch

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

Related forms

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. 2019

Examples from the Web for philatelist

It may have been an error but it troubled no one but the philatelist.
Canada: Its Postage Stamps and Postal Stationery|Clifton Armstrong Howes
Some people irreverently style it "the Philatelist's Bible."
Stamp Collecting as a Pastime|Edward J. Nankivell
This Work is intended to fill a void which has hitherto existed in the Philatelist's Library.
Stamp Collecting as a Pastime|Edward J. Nankivell
Was it published when you went to Ghana that you were a philatelist?
Warren Commission (9 of 26): Hearings Vol. IX (of 15)|The President's Commission on the Assassination of President Kennedy

The philatelist is found in every civilized country, and the collection of postage stamps, used and unused, grows apace.
Chats on Household Curios|Fred W. Burgess

British Dictionary definitions for philatelist

philately

/ (fɪˈlætəlɪ) /

noun

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

Derived Forms

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