mailbag

Meanings

1. 1nouncountable

   A strong bag used by a postal worker for carrying letters and parcels.

   Grammar: Countable: a mailbag, two mailbags.

   Patterns

   • a mailbag full of something

   The carrier slung a heavy mailbag over his shoulder.

   Two mailbags were left at the station by mistake.

   A mailbag full of parcels sat by the door.

2. 2nounsingularinformal

   The collection of letters, emails or messages sent to a person or organization, especially by readers or fans.

   Grammar: Usually singular with the or a possessive: this week's mailbag.

   Patterns

   • the mailbag this week
   • dip into the mailbag

   This week's mailbag is full of questions about gardening.

   The editor read a few letters from the mailbag on air.

   The show's mailbag grew after the final episode.

Word forms

Common combinations

a heavy mailbag

The postman struggled with a heavy mailbag in the snow.

a mailbag full of letters

The singer received a mailbag full of letters from fans.

this week's mailbag

We answer reader questions in this week's mailbag.

dip into the mailbag

Let us dip into the mailbag and see what listeners asked.

a canvas mailbag

The old canvas mailbag hangs in the museum.

Synonyms and how they differ

postbag

Postbag is the British equivalent and is also used for the letters a person receives.

pouch

Pouch is smaller and may be a bag for various items, whereas a mailbag is specifically for mail.

inbox

Inbox usually means an email account, while mailbag can mean a mix of physical and electronic messages.

Word family

mail noun

letters and parcels sent through the post

mail verb

to send by post

mailman noun

a person who delivers mail

mailbox noun

a box where mail is delivered or posted

Commonly confused: mailbag or mailbox?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “mailbag”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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