English Reference
Noun

postmaster

n. countable
C1 Advanced US /ˈpoʊsˌmæstɝ/ UK /pˈəʊstmɑːstɐ/ post·mas·ter UK spelling postmaster's, postmaster's Internet

n.the person in charge of a local post office. They manage the staff and make sure the mail is handled correctly.

n.the official in charge of a specific post office or a postal district. While historically common, the title is now often replaced by more modern administrative designations in many postal services.


SIMPLE

The postmaster signed for the delivery of the new stamps.

CONTEXTUAL

After twenty years of service, the local postmaster retired and was celebrated by the entire village.

COMPLEX

The postmaster general oversees the entire national network, but individual postmasters maintain responsibility for the operational efficiency and security of their respective local branches.

Usage

The feminine form 'postmistress' is still occasionally used, though 'postmaster' is increasingly treated as a gender-neutral professional title.


From post + master.

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

This entry
Level C1 · Advanced
Frequency Occasional
Updated