mailman

IPA/ˈmeɪlmæn/
KK[mˈelmˌæn]IPA/ˈmeɪlmæn/

mailman — noun

  • mailmansingular
  • mailmenplural

1. a man who works for a postal service, bringing letters and packages to homes and

1.nounA2
Definition

a man who works for a postal service, bringing letters and packages to homes and businesses and sometimes collecting outgoing mail from street-side mailboxes

Example

The <hw>mailman</hw> delivered a package to our door just before noon.

collocation: deliver + package

Every morning, our <hw>mailman</hw> waves goodbye as he walks his route.

collocation: mailman + waves / walks his route

Common collocations
  • the mailman delivers / brings / drops off
  • wait for the mailman
  • see / spot the mailman
  • the mailman comes by / arrives
Synonyms
  • mail carrier

    the standard gender-neutral term for someone who delivers mail, common in both American and Canadian English

  • postman

    the equivalent British English term, also used in other Commonwealth countries

  • letter carrier

    the formal term used by the United States Postal Service in official job titles

Usage Note

This term is used primarily in American English. The equivalent in British English is postman. For a gender-neutral alternative, use mail carrier or postal worker.

Common Mistakes

Aiko wants to be a mailman when she grows up.
Aiko wants to be a mail carrier when she grows up.
'mailman' implies a male worker; use 'mail carrier' or 'postal worker' for gender-neutral reference.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

Mailman, mail carrier, postman, letter carrier, and postal worker all refer to the same job—someone who delivers mail to homes and businesses. Mailman is the everyday American term but is being used less often because it unnecessarily specifies the worker's gender. Mail carrier and postal worker are gender-neutral and have become the preferred terms in official and professional contexts in North America. Postman is the standard British English equivalent, though British English also uses postie informally. Letter carrier is the formal job title used by the U.S. Postal Service and appears on official uniforms and vehicles. For example, an American would say 'I left a note for the mail carrier' in casual conversation, while the same person's official badge might read 'Letter Carrier.'

mail carrierpostman ↗letter carrierpostal worker

Common collocations

Nouns

  • mail truck
  • mail route
  • mail bag
  • mailbox

Phrases

  • the mailman's delivery
  • mailman's route

Prepositions

  • from the mailman
  • for the mailman

Etymology

Old FrenchMiddle EnglishEnglish

Formed by combining mail (referring to the postal system, from Old French male 'bag or wallet') and man (from Old English mann 'adult male human'). The term replaced the earlier postman in American usage during the 1800s, as the American postal system adopted the word mail instead of post.