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noun B1 Intermediate Uncommon

mailbox

MAYL-bahks

Mailbox (noun) means a box where mail is delivered or collected. Example: “He found three bills waiting in his mailbox.”

noun
1
A box where mail is delivered or collected.
"He found three bills waiting in his mailbox."
"The postman left a parcel notice in the mailbox."
2
An electronic storage location for received email.
"Her mailbox was full of unread newsletters."

How to use mailbox

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishEither a physical box for post, or the inbox that holds your email.

UK vs US

American English typically says "mailbox" where British English often says "postbox" or "letterbox."

Common pairings
check the mailbox a full mailbox email mailbox

Word forms

mailboxes plural

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Fill the gap

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He found three bills waiting in his _____.

Etymology

From mail + box.

post box post-box postbox

Frequently asked questions

What does “mailbox” mean?

The word “mailbox” means a box where mail is delivered or collected. In plain terms, either a physical box for post, or the inbox that holds your email.

How do you pronounce “mailbox”?

“Mailbox” is pronounced MAYL-bahks (/ˈmeɪl.bɑks/ in IPA).

How do you use “mailbox” in a sentence?

Here is “mailbox” used in a sentence: “He found three bills waiting in his mailbox.”

What is another word for “mailbox”?

Words with a similar meaning to “mailbox” include post box, post-box and postbox.

What part of speech is “mailbox”?

“Mailbox” is a noun.

Is “mailbox” a common word?

“Mailbox” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.

How many meanings does “mailbox” have?

“Mailbox” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a box where mail is delivered or collected.

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