Definition

Proper noun * United States Postal Service (USPS): An independent establishment of the executive branch of the United States federal government. Its primary function is to provide postal service, including the processing, transmission, and delivery of mail and packages to addresses within the United States and its territories.

Usage

The term "US Postal Service" is used to refer specifically to the official national postal organization of the United States. It is often used in contexts discussing mail delivery, government services, logistics, and business operations. * You can buy stamps at the US Postal Service counter. * The US Postal Service delivers mail six days a week. * Please check with the US Postal Service for the latest shipping rates.

Advanced Usage

• "The US Postal Service": The definite article "the" is almost always used when referring to the organization in a sentence.
  • I work for the US Postal Service.
• As a modifier: It can function adjectivally to describe related nouns.
  • US Postal Service regulations prohibit shipping certain items.
  • He has a US Postal Service uniform.

Variants and Related Words

• USPS: The common initialism for the United States Postal Service.
  • You can track your package on the USPS website.
• Postal Service: A more general term, but often used colloquially to mean the USPS within the United States.
  • I'm going to the postal service to mail this letter.
• The Post Office: A common informal term for both the USPS as an organization and its local retail facilities.
  • I need to stop by the post office.

Synonyms

• The Mail (informal, contextual): Refers to the system or the items delivered.
  • Is the mail here yet? (Implies delivery by the USPS)
• The Postal System: A more formal and generic term for the national mail infrastructure.

Related Idioms and Phrases

• "Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night...": This is a popular, informal reference to the USPS's unofficial motto, which describes the dedication of its carriers. It is often used to praise reliable service.
  • True to their motto, the US Postal Service delivered the package despite the blizzard.

Noun

1. an independent federal agency that provides mail processing and delivery service for individuals and businesses in the United States