mailman

Meanings

1. 1nouncountableAmerican

   A person whose job is to collect and deliver letters and packages to homes and businesses.

   Grammar: Countable noun: a mailman, two mailmen.

   Patterns

   • the mailman comes/delivers
   • work as a mailman

   The mailman comes around noon, so I try to be home then.

   She worked as a mailman for ten years before changing jobs.

   Our mailman always waves when he sees my dog.

2. 2noununcountablechild language

   A player in a game of mailman, a children's chasing game.

   Grammar: Used without 'a' or a plural when naming the game.

   Patterns

   • play mailman

   The kids were playing mailman in the yard after school.

   We used to play mailman until it got dark.

Word forms

Common combinations

the mailman comes

The mailman comes early on Saturdays.

mailman delivers the mail

Our mailman delivers the mail in rain or snow.

friendly mailman

The friendly mailman knows everyone on the street.

become a mailman

He became a mailman after leaving the army.

Synonyms and how they differ

postman

The usual British word for the same job; use mailman in American English and postman in British English.

letter carrier

A more formal American term used especially in official job titles.

postie

Informal British word; too casual for formal writing.

Word family

mail noun

Letters and packages sent by post.

Commonly confused: mailman or postman? mailman or mail carrier?

Practice

Make it your own

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

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