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

Mail-in ballots with an election day postmark will be accepted by county election officials through Tuesday.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 4, 2026

“If the postmark is not the same as the city and state of the ‘supposed’ issuing bank, it might be an indication the check is fake.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 27, 2026

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

From BBC • Apr. 20, 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

The letter had been opened by the censors—held by them, too: the postmark was over a week old.

From "The Hiding Place" by Corrie ten Boom

Related Words

• forward
• send