mailbox

noun mail·box \ -ˌbäks \

Updated on: 20 Apr 2018

Definition of mailbox

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 e-mail is collected

See mailbox defined for English-language learners

See mailbox defined for kids

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 of mailbox from the Web

Police received multiple reports of package theft, including items taken from porches and outgoing items taken from mailboxes.

— samantha swindler, OregonLive.com, "Drunk man just wants to listen to Willie Nelson: Forest Grove police log," 16 Apr. 2018
This is sowing confusion as questionnaires land in mailboxes, said James Diossa, the Democratic mayor in Central Falls.

— janet adamy, WSJ, "Citizenship Question Rankles in a Trial Run of 2020 Census," 13 Apr. 2018
Rarely did conversations extend beyond a few words at the mailbox.

— nina shapiro, The Seattle Times, "Who were the Harts, really? Mystery surrounds family that plunged off California cliff," 7 Apr. 2018
The ballots that showed up in mailboxes around Anchorage the week of March 13 replaced the dozens of polling places that fanned out into neighborhood schools, churches and senior centers, staffed by poll workers.

— devin kelly, Anchorage Daily News, "High turnout in Anchorage’s first vote-by-mail election, with many ballots still to count," 4 Apr. 2018
The Sheriff’s Office and State Police report: Joppa A check was stolen Thursday from a mailbox in the 400 block of Philadelphia Road.

— erika butler, The Aegis, "The Aegis Police Blotter," 27 Mar. 2018
In 2002, for instance, Lucas Helder planted bombs in mailboxes across the United States in an arrangement that would allow someone looking at the United States from space to see a smiley face.

— tim stelloh, NBC News, "Deadly Austin bombings were ‘meant to send a message,’ police chief says," 18 Mar. 2018
At one point, the out-of-breath male caller appears to leave the mansion to find mail in nearby mailboxes.

— jose lambiet, miamiherald, "‘Please help me,’ Rick Ross pal pleads in frantic 911 medical call | Miami Herald," 8 Mar. 2018
Residents should check their mailboxes in early January for more information on the upcoming focus groups.

— darryl enriquez, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Residents to learn and advise on repair, upgrade needs for aging Waukesha middle schools," 11 Jan. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'mailbox.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of mailbox

1868

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

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MAILBOX Defined for English Language Learners

mailbox

noun

Definition of mailbox for English Language Learners

: a public box in which letters and packages are placed to be collected and sent out
: a private box on or near a house in which mail is placed when it is delivered
computers : a computer folder that holds e-mail