letter-carrier

A letter-carrier delivers mail to a house.

Definition

1. Noun:
   • A person who delivers mail: "letter-carrier" refers to an individual employed to transport and deliver postal mail to homes and businesses. This term is synonymous with "mail carrier" or "postman/postwoman."

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • The letter-carrier arrived at our door just after lunch. (The person delivering mail came to our house.)
  • She has worked as a letter-carrier for the postal service for over twenty years. (She has been employed delivering mail for two decades.)

Advanced Usage

• "to be a letter-carrier": to hold the occupation of delivering mail.

  • In many countries, being a letter-carrier is a respected public service job. (The occupation is considered honourable.)

• "letter-carrier route": a specific area or path assigned to a letter-carrier for mail delivery.

  • The letter-carrier's route covers three neighbourhoods. (The assigned delivery area includes three residential districts.)

Variants and Related Words

• Mail carrier (n): a synonym for letter-carrier, commonly used in American English.

  • The mail carrier waved as she passed by. (The person delivering mail greeted the resident.)

• Postman (n): a male letter-carrier, especially in British English.

  • The postman brought a package today. (The male mail deliverer brought a parcel.)

• Postwoman (n): a female letter-carrier, especially in British English.

  • The postwoman delivered the letters on time. (The female mail deliverer was punctual.)

Synonyms

• Mail carrier: a person who carries and delivers mail.
• Postal worker: an employee of the postal service, which includes letter-carriers.
• Mailman: an informal term for a male letter-carrier.

Related Idioms

• "Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night stays these couriers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds": A famous motto associated with postal workers, including letter-carriers, emphasizing their dedication.

  • The letter-carrier braved the storm, living up to the motto that "neither snow nor rain..." stops the mail. (The mail deliverer worked despite bad weather.)

• "to go postal": an informal idiom meaning to become extremely and uncontrollably angry, derived from rare incidents involving postal workers (though not directly related to letter-carriers specifically).

  • He was so stressed that he nearly went postal. (He became very angry, referencing the idiom's origin.)