Dictionary.com
Thesaurus.com
Synonyms

postmaster

American  
[pohst-mas-ter, -mah-ster] / ˈpoʊstˌmæs tər, -ˌmɑ stər /

noun

  1. the official in charge of a post office.

  2. (formerly) the master of a station that furnished post horses to travelers.

postmaster British  
/ ˈpəʊstˌmɑːstə /

noun

  1. Also (feminine): postmistress.  an official in charge of a local post office

  2. the person responsible for managing the electronic mail at a site

"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

Other Word Forms

  • postmastership noun
  • subpostmaster noun
  • subpostmastership noun

Etymology

Origin of postmaster

First recorded in 1505–15; post 3 + master

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.

Sadly, her aunt turns out to be dead, but Quartz Creek’s postmaster encourages Selena to move into her house anyway.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 2, 2026

U.S. in 1838, which limited presidential control of the postmaster general, and Myers v.

From Salon • Oct. 8, 2025

U.S. in 1926, which held that the president could remove a postmaster in Oregon.

From Salon • Oct. 8, 2025

He applied for the role after reading an article about last year's Antarctic postmaster.

From BBC • Nov. 11, 2024

The postmaster looked out between the bars of his golden grill.

From "East of Eden" by John Steinbeck

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.