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

By late 2025, StubHub changed the address again, this time using its old Draper post office box number with an Atlanta ZIP Code.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 11, 2026

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

In a news release, the Sheriff’s Department thanked the post office box owner for taking a proactive approach and for not attempting to confront the suspects by herself.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 21, 2024

The LLC changed addresses around Colorado Springs three times since its establishment in 2016 with a post office box.

From Seattle Times ● Oct. 5, 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