Synonyms

postcode

American

[pohst-kohd] / ˈpoʊstˌkoʊd /

noun

British.

an official code used by the post office, similar to the U.S. zip code, that adds numbers and letters to addresses to expedite mail delivery.

postcode British

/ ˈpəʊstˌkəʊd /

noun

Also called: postal code. US equivalent: zip code. a code of letters and digits used as part of a postal address to aid the sorting of mail

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of postcode

First recorded in 1965–70; post ³ + code

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

She told me without hesitation: "It's still Lancashire to me, I know my postcode is Manchester, but I will always live in Lancashire."

From BBC • May 28, 2026

But according to Krawczyk: "The reality is that, appropriate end-of-life care is a postcode lottery" and doulas can help to fill those gaps in care.

From BBC • May 2, 2026

You can also use the postcode search below to find out who is standing in every seat at the election on 7 May.

From BBC • Apr. 28, 2026

"When you live around the border, it really can feel like a postcode lottery," she said.

From BBC • Apr. 27, 2026

On Yahoo’s front page there are news stories, tailored to your postcode or whatever—God only knows how they know my postcode, but they do.

From "The Girl on the Train" by Paula Hawkins

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023