postmaster general

American  

noun

• postmasters general
  plural

1. the executive head of the postal system of a country.

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postmaster general British  

noun

1. the executive head of the postal service in certain countries

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postmaster general Cultural  

1. The head of the United States Postal Service. Until 1970, the postmaster general was head of the federal Post Office Department and a member of the president's cabinet. In 1970, the Postal Service was set up as an independent agency in place of the Post Office Department. The Postal Service is operated like a private corporation, although postal workers receive the benefits of federal employees.

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• postmasters general
  plural

Etymology

Origin of postmaster general

First recorded in 1620–30

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

postmaster general

Both the postmaster general and Congress choose to ignore the elephant in the room—the American Postal Workers Union.

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 17, 2026

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

From Salon ● Oct. 8, 2025

As I reported at the time, his name came to the Board of Governors independently of a headhunting firm that the board had commissioned to find candidates for postmaster general.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 25, 2024

Louis DeJoy, postmaster general, said the Postal Service goal is to make peak holiday season delivery “superior and routine.”

From Seattle Times ● Nov. 20, 2023

By the terms of their commissions, the deputies of the postmaster general in the colonies, were responsible to the postmaster general alone for the conduct of the affairs of the post offices within their jurisdiction.

From The History of the Post Office in British North America by Sir William Smith