post office box

American  

[pohst-aw-fis boks, of-is] / ˈpoʊstˌɔ fɪs ˌbɒks, ˌɒf ɪs /

Also P.O. box or post-office box

noun

post office boxes plural

1. a small, locked compartment, usually in a post office, into which the mail of a box renter is put to be called for. POB, P.O.B.

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post office box British  

noun

1. a private numbered place in a post office, in which letters received are kept until called for

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• post office boxes
  plural

Etymology

Origin of post office box

An Americanism dating back to 1825–35

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

post office box

Voters can choose to have a vote-by-mail ballot sent to the residence of a family member or friend, a post office box, or your place of employment by completing a replacement ballot request.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 1, 2025

Voting by mail also presents a challenge because many reservation residents do not receive mail service at their home addresses and may use a shared post office box.

From Salon ● Oct. 14, 2024

Also increasing would be the cost of domestic and international postcards, one-ounce international letters, certified mail, post office box rentals, money order fees and mailing insurance.

From Washington Times ● Apr. 10, 2023

Johnson said Arias-Lopez also had a post office box.

From Washington Post ● Mar. 3, 2023

Liyana begged Poppy to pass by their new post office box often to see if she had received any letters from home.

From "Habibi" by Naomi Shihab Nye