postal

American  

[pohs-tl] / ˈpoʊs tl /

adjective

1. of or relating to the post office or mail service.

   postal delivery; postal employees.

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noun

1. Informal. postal card.

idioms

1. go postal, to lose control or go crazy, especially in a violent way.

postal British  

/ ˈpəʊstəl /

adjective

1. of or relating to a Post Office or to the mail-delivery service

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Other Word Forms

• postally
  adverb

Etymology

Origin of postal

First recorded in 1835–45; post ³ def. + -al ¹; 1990–95 postal for def. 3, in reference to incidents of violence among postal workers in the early 1990s

Explanation

The term postal refers to an official, government-run mail service that delivers letters and packages right to your door or mailbox. Postal workers sort mail at post offices, sell postage stamps, collect packages to be delivered, and deliver the mail. When you're sending a package or letter to someone, you should include the correct postal code — also known as a ZIP code in the U.S. — in the address to help make sure it gets to the right place. The postal system connects people across towns, cities, and even countries by working to get letters and parcels to their intended destinations.

Example Sentences

Polanski, along with several other individuals also thought to have boats in the marina, used a nearby building as a postal address.

From BBC • May 12, 2026

In 1936, a Harlem postal worker named Victor Green began publishing the Negro Motorist Green Book, a guide to the hotels, restaurants and gas stations along the route that would serve Black travelers.

From Los Angeles Times • May 12, 2026

For those who have not already submitted a postal ballot, polling stations opened at 07:00 and remain open until 22:00.

From BBC • May 7, 2026

"The administration of postal voting is one of the areas we will consider, and we will seek views from all related parties as part of this process," it added.

From BBC • May 6, 2026

She was thrilled by the opening discussions about her husband’s image appearing on a U.S. postal stamp.

From "The Autobiography of Malcolm X" by Alex Malcolm X;Hailey