address

The word “address” means the details of where a building or property is located, used for mail or navigation. In plain terms, where something is located (a postal or network address), a formal speech, or the act of speaking to someone or dealing with a problem.

“Address” is pronounced uh-DREHS (/əˈdɹɛs/ in IPA).

Here is “address” used in a sentence: “Please write your home address on the form.”

Depending on how it is used, “address” can be a noun and a verb.

The word “address” comes from Latin. From Old French adrecier, "to straighten, to direct," from Latin dirigere, "to guide" — the same root that gives us "direct.".

“Address” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A1 level.

“Address” has 6 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: the details of where a building or property is located, used for mail or navigation.

A typical address includes the building or house number, street name, town or city, postal or ZIP code, and often the country. Some also add an apartment or unit number, or a business name. Together these details pinpoint exactly where a property is for mail delivery or navigation.

A physical address is the actual location of a building where someone lives or works. A postal or mailing address is where mail is delivered, which is usually the same but can differ, such as a PO box. Most addresses serve both purposes, but not always.

A full address might read "10 Downing Street, London, SW1A 2AA, United Kingdom." It combines a house number, street, city, and postcode to identify one specific property. American addresses follow a similar pattern with a ZIP code, such as "1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, Washington, DC 20500."

A postcode (UK) or ZIP code (US) is the string of letters or numbers that identifies a small delivery area within an address. It helps postal services sort and route mail quickly and lets navigation systems locate a property precisely. It is one of the most useful parts of a modern address.