philately

[ fi-lat-l-ee ]

/ fɪˈlæt l i /

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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.

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Origin of philately

First recorded in 1860–65; from French philatélie, from 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

Words nearby philately

philanthropic, philanthropist, philanthropize, philanthropy, philatelist, philately, Philby, -phile, Philem., philemaphobia, Philemon

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022

How to use philately in a sentence

Philately, fi-lat′e-li, n. the study and collection of postage and revenue stamps and labels (also Timbrophily, Timbrology).
Chambers's Twentieth Century Dictionary (part 3 of 4: N-R)|Various
Strictly speaking, the so-called "officially sealed stamps" are not stamps, as that term is technically employed in philately.
Canada: Its Postage Stamps and Postal Stationery|Clifton Armstrong Howes
Every new phase of recreation from playgrounds to philately presently has its countrywide association.
Society|Henry Kalloch Rowe
It is impossible to estimate the injury resulting to Philately.
Harper's Young People, June 14, 1881|Various

Like the lady said to the stamp collector, philately will get you everywhere.
Makers|Cory Doctorow

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