What does postal mean?
Postal means relating to the system used to send mail or to something carried out through that system. It commonly appears in established expressions such as "postal service," "postal address," "postal code," and "postal vote." The adjective has a formal, administrative tone, making it particularly appropriate for official documents, elections, and public services, although "mail" is often more conversational. In British English, "postal" can also be used informally as a noun for a vote conducted by post: "a postal." In the United States, a vote sent and completed by mail is more commonly called a mail-in ballot. Postal can therefore indicate either the general infrastructure of a country's mail service or, more specifically, a process conducted through that service. Its principal modern use is adjectival, while the noun is comparatively uncommon and regionally associated.
Of or relating to the postal system, mail, or something sent or conducted by post.
"The university uses the postal address of the registered office for legal correspondence."
Often more formal than the ordinary term "mail," especially in administrative and public contexts.
A vote or ballot conducted by post rather than in person.
"Members may request a postal or return their completed voting form to the office."
Chiefly an informal British usage; American English more often uses "mail-in ballot."
The plural is uncommon but is used when several votes or ballots conducted by post are referred to.
"The organization distributed postals to members unable to attend the meeting."
The word "post" once meant a stopping place on a horse relay, helping to give its name to the service that carried mail.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does postal come from?
Postal was formed in the early 19th century from post, in the sense of the postal system, and the suffix -al. The earlier word post came through French poste and Italian posta from Latin posita, meaning "placed," and originally referred to a station where horses were changed on a relay route. As organized mail services developed, post came to denote the service and its deliveries, from which postal was derived.
Related word forms
How postal is actually used
The adjective is formal and administrative; in less formal contexts, "mail" is often more natural. As a noun, "postal" is chiefly a British informal shortening of "postal vote," while American usage more often favors "mail-in ballot."