post office

American  

[pohst aw-fis, of-is] / ˈpoʊst ˌɔ fɪs, ˌɒf ɪs /

noun

1. an office or station of a government postal system at which mail is received and sorted, from which it is dispatched and distributed, and at which stamps are sold or other services rendered. PO, P.O.

2. Often Post Office the department of a government charged with the transportation of mail.

3. an old-fashioned game in which one player is designated “postmaster” or “postmistress” and calls another player of a different gender into an adjoining room, ostensibly to receive a letter but actually to receive a kiss.

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Post Office ¹ British  

noun

1. a government department or authority in many countries responsible for postal services and often telecommunications

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post office ² British  

noun

1. a building or room where postage stamps are sold and other postal business is conducted

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Other Word Forms

• post-office adjective

Etymology

Origin of post office

First recorded in 1645–55

Example Sentences

This is giving the reliability of the post office too much credit.

From The Wall Street Journal

His father spent nights sorting mail for the post office.

From The Wall Street Journal

Going to the post office or grocery store gives them the opportunity to unload while also allowing you both to cross something off your to-do lists.

From MarketWatch

Roughly three in five post offices don’t cover the cost of their operations.

From The Wall Street Journal

During the day, telephone calls are meant for business: banks and couriers and department stores and the post office.

From Literature

Related Words

• postal service