English Reference
noun

postage

n.
US /ˈpoʊstədʒ/ UK /pˈəʊstɪdʒ/ postage UK spelling postages

  1. 01 B1 Intermediate

    the amount of money you pay to send a letter or a package.

    the fee or charge required for the delivery of an item by a postal service.

    Simple

    How much is the postage for this heavy box to Australia?

    In context

    The online retailer offers free delivery on orders over fifty pounds, provided the total postage costs do not exceed a certain threshold.

    Usage

    Often used as an uncountable noun when referring to the general cost.

    shippingdelivery fee
  2. 02 B2 Upper Intermediate

    the system or service used for sending and delivering mail.

    the institutional system or process of transporting and delivering letters and parcels.

    Simple

    The document was lost in the postage and never arrived at the office.

    In context

    Despite the rise of digital communication, the national postage remains a vital infrastructure for the distribution of physical goods and official documents.

    mailpostal service
  3. 03 B2 Upper Intermediate

    the stamps or printed marks on an envelope that show you have paid.

    the physical evidence of payment affixed to a piece of mail, such as a stamp or a franking mark.

    Simple

    Check that the envelope has the correct postage before you drop it in the box.

    In context

    The collector was particularly interested in the rare Victorian postage visible on the corner of the weathered envelope.

    stampsfranking

From post + -age.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry
Level B1 · Intermediate
Frequency Frequent
Updated