postmark

American  

[pohst-mahrk] / ˈpoʊstˌmɑrk /

noun

1. an official mark stamped on letters and other mail, serving as a cancellation of the postage stamp and indicating the place, date, and sometimes time of sending or receipt.

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verb (used with object)

postmarks, present (3rd person singular) postmarked, past participle, past postmarking present participle

1. to stamp with a postmark.

postmark British  

/ ˈpəʊstˌmɑːk /

noun

1. any mark stamped on mail by postal officials, such as a simple obliteration, date mark, or indication of route See also cancellation

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verb

1. (tr) to put such a mark on mail

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• unpostmarked
  adjective

Conjugated Forms

Present

• have postmarked
  perfect
• has postmarked
  perfect 3rd person singular
• am postmarking
  progressive 1st person singular
• have been postmarking
  perfect progressive
• are postmarking
  progressive
• is postmarking
  progressive 3rd person singular
• has been postmarking
  perfect progressive 3rd person singular
• postmarks
  singular 3rd person
• postmarking
  participle

Past

• had postmarked
  perfect
• had been postmarking
  perfect progressive
• was postmarking
  progressive singular
• were postmarking
  progressive plural
• postmarked
  simple
• postmarked
  participle

Future

• will postmark
  simple
• will have postmarked
  perfect
• will have been postmarking
  perfect progressive
• will be postmarking
  progressive

Etymology

Origin of postmark

First recorded in 1670–80; post ³ + mark ¹

Example Sentences

Many post offices no longer postmark mail the same day it is received because of adjustments to transportation operations at the United States Postal Service.

From Los Angeles Times • May 1, 2026

Tickets go on sale on Friday and are restricted to people with a Bolton postmark.

From BBC • Apr. 20, 2026

Make sure to see the envelope handstamped with the postmark instead of tossing the letter in the mailbox, O’Saben added.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 9, 2026

Fourteen US states allow mail-in ballots to be tallied after the date of the election if they bear a postmark by Election Day.

From Barron's • Mar. 23, 2026

Bobby noticed that the postmark on the letter’s envelope was many months past, and there was actually another letter from Zita in his pile of unopened mail.

From "Endgame" by Frank Brady

Related Words

• forward
• send