postal
postal Lexical Profile
postal Game Scores & Validity
• adjective
Relating to the official system for collecting, sorting, and delivering mail, or to a post office.
"Please make sure to include the correct postal code on the envelope so the package arrives on time."
North American Extremely angry, hysterical, or out of control, especially in the phrase 'go postal'.
"The manager nearly went postal when he discovered that the entire database had been accidentally deleted."
• noun
American A postcard, especially one issued by the post office with a preprinted postage stamp.
"During her summer travels across the country, she sent a brief postal from every town she visited."
Word Nuance & Usage
In the slang phrase 'go postal', the adjective is used exclusively as a predicate complement to describe a sudden, uncontrollable outburst of rage, originating from a series of workplace incidents at United States post offices in the late 20th century.
• Rhymes for postal
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
Borrowed in the mid-19th century from French 'postal', derived from 'poste' (mail or courier station), which ultimately traces back to Latin 'posita', meaning 'placed' or 'stationed' along a route.