Meaning & use
parcel delivery
Last updated
Meanings
nouncountable or uncountable
the act or service of bringing a wrapped package to someone's address.
Grammar: Countable when you mean one occasion: a parcel delivery. Uncountable when you mean the service in general: Parcel delivery is expensive here.
Patterns
- a parcel delivery
- parcel delivery service
- arrange parcel delivery
The store offers free parcel delivery on orders over $50.
My parcel delivery is scheduled for Thursday morning.
Parcel delivery has become much faster in the last ten years.
noununcountablebusiness
a company or system that carries packages from sellers to customers.
Grammar: Used like an industry name, often before another noun: the parcel delivery industry.
Patterns
- the parcel delivery industry
- work in parcel delivery
She got a job in parcel delivery after leaving school.
The parcel delivery market is growing quickly.
Word forms
| plural | parcel deliveries |
|---|
Common combinations
- free parcel delivery
- Members get free parcel delivery.
- same-day parcel delivery
- Same-day parcel delivery costs extra.
- parcel delivery service
- We use a local parcel delivery service.
- track a parcel delivery
- You can track your parcel delivery online.
- miss a parcel delivery
- I missed the parcel delivery because I was at work.
Synonyms and how they differ
- package delivery
- The usual American term; parcel delivery is more common in British English.
- courier service
- Focuses on the company or person that carries the package, not the act of bringing it.
- shipping
- A wider word for sending goods, often by ship, truck, or plane; it can include large loads, not just parcels.
Word family
Commonly confused: parcel delivery or partial delivery?
parcel delivery vs partial delivery
Partial delivery means only part of an order has arrived; parcel delivery means a package is brought to you.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'parcel delivery' correctly?
Choose one answer.
'Parcel delivery' is a noun phrase, so it can be the subject of a sentence: The parcel delivery arrived. Options An and C use it as a verb, which is wrong; option D has a plural verb with a singular subject.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “parcel delivery”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.