# postage

/ˈpoʊstədʒ/ (US) · /pˈəʊstɪdʒ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/postage
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. the cost of mailing

noun · CEFR B1

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

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

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

### 2. the postal system

noun · CEFR B2

the system or service used for sending and delivering mail.

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

- The document was lost in the postage and never arrived at the office.
- Despite the rise of digital communication, the national postage remains a vital infrastructure for the distribution of physical goods and official documents.

### 3. stamps or marks

noun · CEFR B2

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

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

- Check that the envelope has the correct postage before you drop it in the box.
- The collector was particularly interested in the rare Victorian postage visible on the corner of the weathered envelope.

## Examples

- How much is the postage for this heavy box?
- The online store offers free shipping, but customers must pay for return postage if they change their minds.
- International postage rates vary significantly depending on the destination country and the weight of the parcel being dispatched.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.