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postman

1 American  
[pohst-muhn] / ˈpoʊst mən /

noun

plural

postmen

  1. a postal employee who carries and delivers mail; mail carrier.

  2. Archaic. a courier.

postman 2 American  
[pohst-muhn] / ˈpoʊst mən /

noun

Old English Law.

plural

postmen

  1. a barrister in the Court of Exchequer who had precedence in motions.

postman British  
/ ˈpəʊstmən /

noun

  1. a person who carries and delivers mail as a profession

"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

Gender

See -man.

Etymology

Origin of postman1

First recorded in 1520–30; post 3 + -man

Origin of postman2

First recorded in 1760–70; post 1 + -man

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.

His witty, thoughtful verses broadened the scope of hip-hop with stories about treating your mother with respect and catching your girlfriend cheating with the postman, alongside hard-hitting lyrics about social deprivation and immigration.

From BBC • Mar. 25, 2026

The postman Joseph Roulin and his wife, Augustine, became Van Gogh’s principal friends during his stay in Arles.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 25, 2025

Former postman Jonathan Roberts told the jury he heard the explosion as he drove past Mr Davies' house.

From BBC • Sep. 15, 2025

The 61-year-old is ex-forces, and also held other positions before becoming a postman, but he is proud to have been described as "the Erin Brockovich of Stoke-on-Trent".

From BBC • Aug. 1, 2025

Who did he know who sent letters by the postman?

From "Harry Potter And The Goblet Of Fire" by J. K. Rowling

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

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.