Meaning & use
postal code
Last updated
UK/ˈpəʊstəl kəʊd/
US/ˈpoʊstəl koʊd/
Meaning
nouncountable
A series of letters or numbers added to an address to help sort and deliver mail.
Grammar: Countable: you can say a postal code or postal codes.
Patterns
- enter your postal code
- what is your postal code?
Please write your postal code clearly on the envelope.
The website asks for your postal code before it shows the delivery cost.
Different countries use different formats for their postal codes.
Word forms
| plural | postal codes |
|---|
Common combinations
- postal code format
- The postal code format in Canada mixes letters and numbers.
- enter a postal code
- Enter your postal code to find nearby stores.
- wrong postal code
- A wrong postal code can delay your package.
- five-digit postal code
- Many US addresses have a five-digit postal code.
Synonyms and how they differ
- postcode
- Used in British English; it means the same thing but sounds more local.
- ZIP code
- The American term; use it when talking about US addresses specifically.
Commonly confused: postal code or area code?
postal code vs area code
An area code is for phone numbers, not for mail addresses.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'postal code' correctly?
Choose one answer.
'Postal code' is a noun for part of an address, so it fits in 'include your postal code'. The other options use it as a phone or a verb, which is wrong.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “postal code”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.
Your sentence stays on this page and is not sent anywhere.