postbox

American  

[pohst-boks] / ˈpoʊstˌbɒks /

noun

Chiefly British.

• postboxes
  plural

1. a mailbox, especially one for public deposit of mail.

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postbox British  

/ ˈpəʊstˌbɒks /

noun

1. Also called: letter box.  a box into which mail is put for collection by the postal service

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• postboxes
  plural

Etymology

Origin of postbox

First recorded in 1745–55; post ³ + box ¹

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

postbox postboxes

"I really don't know what an automatic postbox is," said Ralph Boyd.

From BBC ● Jan. 31, 2026

Boyd said he was not notified about the new postbox and didn't think it would be accessible for people of his age.

From BBC ● Jan. 31, 2026

Two designs were trialled in the pilot, including one where the entire round lid of the postbox was black.

From BBC ● Aug. 27, 2025

A new postbox that can take small parcels is being trialled by Royal Mail.

From BBC ● Apr. 10, 2025

On some days, I wish I could stay inside my postbox, with a tiny pillow made from a stamp with a flower on it.

From "Tasting the Sky" by Ibtisam Barakat

Downey added that he preferred the older postboxes as he could just drop a letter in and go.

From BBC ● Jan. 31, 2026

Have you noticed anything different about postboxes near you?

From BBC ● Jan. 31, 2026

Seven "postboxes of the future" are in place in Northern Ireland, of 3,500 planned across the UK.

From BBC ● Jan. 31, 2026

Royal Mail chief executive, Emma Gilthorpe, said the move was an "historic change" that would give "our iconic postboxes a new lease of life".

From BBC ● Apr. 10, 2025

Across the country that day, the ballots for year-end honors in Thoroughbred racing began arriving in journalists’ postboxes.

From "Seabiscuit: An American Legend" by Laura Hillenbrand