mailbox

noun

mail·​box ˈmāl-ˌbäks 

1

: a box at or near a dwelling for the occupant's mail

2

: a public box for deposit of outgoing mail

3

: a computer file in which email is collected

Examples of mailbox in a Sentence

On the way to work, I dropped my letters in the corner mailbox.

She checked her mailbox daily, hoping for a letter from her son.

Recent Examples on the Web

His writing has appeared around the internet and in friends' mailboxes. —Drew Broussard, Literary Hub, 15 Apr. 2026

Refreshing house numbers or a mailbox creates a cleaner look. —Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Charlotte Observer, 14 Apr. 2026

Primary election ballots will begin hitting California voters’ mailboxes in just a few weeks, and Swalwell’s campaign had been gaining steam and financial support that may now be up for grabs by other candidates. —Seema Mehta, Los Angeles Times, 13 Apr. 2026

Refresh house numbers or your mailbox for a cleaner look. —Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Sacbee.com, 13 Apr. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1868, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for mailbox

• botox
• checkbox
• comox
• cornstalks
• cowpox
• crosswalks
• deadlocks
• detox
• feedstocks
• firebox
• gearbox
• hemlocks

Kids Definition

mailbox

noun

mail·​box ˈmā(ə)l-ˌbäks 

1

: a public box in which to place outgoing mail

2

: a private box (as on a house) for the delivery of incoming mail

3

: a computer file in which email is collected