Definition

Noun: 1. A children's game: A game, often played by children, where participants exchange pretend letters or messages, sometimes involving tokens like kisses. 2. A government mail service: The national organization or system responsible for collecting, sorting, transporting, and delivering letters and parcels. (Often capitalized: Post Office). 3. A local branch: A building or office where postal services such as mailing letters, buying stamps, or collecting parcels are available to the public.

Examples

• As a children's game:
  • The kids are playing post office in the living room.
• As a government service/system:
  • The Post Office will be closed on the national holiday.
  • She works for the post office.
• As a local branch:
  • I need to go to the post office to send this package.
  • Is there a post office near the train station?

Advanced Usage

• "Post Office" vs. "post office": When referring to the official government agency or service as an entity, it is often capitalized ("the Post Office"). When referring to a specific building or the concept in general, it is usually lowercase ("the post office on Main Street").
• Figurative use for reliable delivery: The term can be used informally to describe something very reliable.
  • His arm is like the post office; his throws always reach the receiver.

Variants and Related Words

• Postal service: A synonym for the mail delivery system.
• Mail carrier / Postman / Postwoman: A person who delivers mail.
• Postbox / Mailbox: A public box for depositing outgoing mail.

Synonyms

• (For the service/system): Mail service, postal system.
• (For the local branch): Mail depot, postal branch.

Related Idioms

• "Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night...": This is the famous unofficial motto of the United States Postal Service, describing the reliability of the post office. It is often used to commend unwavering dedication.
  • Like the post office, the team worked through the storm to finish the project.

Noun

1. a children's game in which kisses are exchanged for pretended letters
2. an independent agency of the federal government responsible for mail delivery (and sometimes telecommunications) between individuals and businesses in the United States
3. a local branch where postal services are available"