post office

[pohst aw-fis, of-is]

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.

Post Office

¹

noun

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

post office

²

noun

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

Other Word Forms

• post-office adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of post office¹

First recorded in 1645–55

Example Sentences

The payments ranged from $1,500 for setting fire to a post office to $3,000 for a bank.

Read more on BBC

Penelope hoped Svetlana had not had the burden of dragging the heavy mailbag back to the post office.

Read more on Literature

“Under normal circumstances, the post office is exactly the right place to bring a letter to be sent,” she replied.

Read more on Literature

“Messages to the living? That’s what the post office is for, honey. So long, wolf babies! Come visit when you’re in the neighborhood.”

Read more on Literature

“Yesterday was a bit of a muddle, but I believe I have the hang of things now. After the post office we will proceed to Buckingham Palace.”

Read more on Literature

Related Words

• postal service www.thesaurus.com