postman

IPA/ˈpəʊstmən/
KK[pˈostmən]IPA/ˈpəʊstmən/

postman — noun

  • postmansingular
  • postmenplural

1. a worker in the postal service, traditionally male, who brings letters to homes

1.nounB1
Definition

a worker in the postal service, traditionally male, who brings letters to homes and collects mail to be sent.

Example

The postman pushed today's letters through the front door at eight.

typical duty: bring letters to a home

At noon, the postman collected three stamped letters from our gate.

pattern: collect letters from [place]

Common collocations
  • village postman
  • local postman
  • the postman comes
  • the postman delivers letters
  • the postman collects mail
Synonyms
  • mail carrier

    more neutral and common in official or modern use

  • postal worker

    broader; can include people with other jobs in the postal service

  • mailman

    close in meaning, but especially common in American English and also gendered

  • letter carrier

    an official-sounding term focused on delivering mail

Grammar Patterns

the postman delivers letters

the postman collects mail

wait for the postman

Usage Note

Still widely understood, but because the word contains 'man' it can sound dated or gender-specific in some contexts. In neutral or official job titles, speakers often prefer 'mail carrier' or 'postal worker', especially when the worker may be a woman.

Common Mistakes

I will go to the postman after school.
I will go to the post office after school.
a postman is a person, but a post office is the place.
The postman brought our letters, and she is new here.
The postal worker brought our letters, and she is new here.
'postman' can sound gender-specific when you know the worker is a woman.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

Postman is a familiar everyday word for someone who brings letters and collects outgoing mail, but it can sound older because it includes man. Mail carrier is a more neutral modern term and fits both men and women. Postal worker is broader: it can mean a delivery worker, but it can also refer to someone working inside the postal system. Mailman is very close to postman and is especially common in American English, though it is also gendered. Letter carrier sounds more official and focuses on the delivery role itself. For example, you might say The postman came early today, but a form from the post office may use letter carrier or postal worker.

mail carrierpostal workermailman ↗letter carrier

Common collocations

Nouns

  • village postman
  • local postman
  • postman bag

Phrases

  • wait for the postman
  • the postman comes
  • the postman delivers letters
  • the postman collects mail

Etymology

English

Postman was formed in English from post, meaning the mail system, and man. It first referred to a male worker who carried letters from place to place. The word is still common, but modern English also often uses more neutral terms such as mail carrier and postal worker.