Word
postal
US/ˈpoʊstəɫ/
UK/pˈəʊstəl/
Definitions
01related to mail
B1 · Intermediate
adj. relating to the system of sending and delivering letters and packages.
adj. relating to the collection, sorting, and delivery of mail by a national or commercial service.
Español:postal
“The postal service is usually slower during the busy holiday season.”
“The government introduced new postal regulations to standardise the dimensions of international parcels and reduce sorting errors.”
Usage
Usually placed before a noun.
02extremely angry
C1 · Advanced American English · Slang · Informal
adj. becoming suddenly and violently angry, especially at work.
adj. becoming uncontrollably or violently angry; often used in the phrase 'go postal'.
“He almost went postal when he found out his car had been towed.”
“The manager was worried that the constant overtime and lack of support would cause one of the stressed employees to go postal.”
Usage
Almost exclusively used with the verb 'go'.
Teaching tip
This term originated from high-profile incidents of workplace violence at US post offices in the 1980s; it is very informal and can be sensitive.
Real-World Examples
“The postal service has faced years of criticism from politicians and the public over the slowness of its letter delivery.” “Democratic lawmakers have likewise argued that the Postal Service is seeking to reconfigure election rules with the midterm elections just months away.” Etymology
From post + -al, modelled on French postal.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
ADJECTIVE
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
- アルファベット
- 読み方の一覧 →
QR code
englishreference.com/q/postal
Traducciones: Kaikki.org (Wiktionary), CC BY-SA 4.0