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noun

postal code

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Postal code (noun) means a short series of letters, numbers or both, added to an address so that mail can be sorted and delivered to the right area or street. Example: “Enter your postal code to see delivery options.”

noun
1
A short series of letters, numbers or both, added to an address so that mail can be sorted and delivered to the right area or street.
"Enter your postal code to see delivery options."
"The form was rejected because the postal code did not match the city."
"Taiwan, for instance, extends its civilian control over Itu Aba as a municipality that is part of Kaohsiung's Cijin District, and it has its own postal code." — Clarence J. Bouchat, Legal Basis and Claims in the Spratly Islands Scrum (2013)
"Don't forget to add the postal code to the envelope, or it won't be delivered on time."

How to use postal code

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishThe letters and numbers at the end of an address that tell the post office where it goes.

When to use it

Neutral. Postal code is the standard term in Canada and much international usage; British English says postcode, American English says ZIP code, and India says PIN code.

Memory tip

On international forms, 'postal code' is the neutral label that covers postcode, ZIP and PIN alike.

Trace the full origin ↓
Easily confused with
postcode → ZIP code → PIN code area code
Common pairings
enter your postal code postal code lookup valid postal code postal code area
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Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

Enter your _____ to see delivery options.

Etymology

From postal, from French poste and Italian posta, ultimately from Latin ponere meaning 'to place'; plus code, from Latin codex.

Origin: French and Latin

Synonyms

View more →
postcode ZIP code PIN code post code

Related words

postcode ZIP code

Rhymes for postal code

ode rode code mode bode node lode diode abode erode Rhode Goode
See all rhymes for postal code →

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between a postal code and a ZIP code?
They do the same job under different national systems. ZIP code is the American term and is numeric — five digits, optionally plus four more. Postal code is the general term used elsewhere; Canadian ones alternate letters and numbers, and British postcodes mix letters and numbers in two blocks.
What is the difference between a postal code and an area code?
A postal code routes mail to a geographic delivery area. An area code routes telephone calls to a region. They cover different territories and are never interchangeable, even though both are tied to place.
How specific is a postal code?
It depends on the country. A US ZIP code usually covers a whole town or a district of a city, while a full UK postcode narrows down to a handful of addresses on one street, and a Canadian one can identify a single large building.
What is the meaning of postal code?
"postal code" (noun) means a short series of letters, numbers or both, added to an address so that mail can be sorted and delivered to the right area or street.

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