mailbox

noun

mail·​box ˈmāl-ˌbäks How to pronounce mailbox (audio)
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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Among Cederquist’s chump-change payoffs, in addition to the candy, were bottled water, a snow blower and a granite mailbox. Howie Carr, Boston Herald, 15 Oct. 2025 Black widows and brown widows are usually found in wood piles, garages, around mailboxes, and in areas of the home that aren’t commonly cleaned. Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 11 Oct. 2025 Sheriff’s officials said two unidentified suspects were caught on security camera video stealing mail from cluster mailboxes. Rosalio Ahumada, Sacbee.com, 9 Oct. 2025 As part of the changes, Canada Post is planning to end door-to-door delivery for 4 million addresses, instead shifting this mail to community mailboxes. Glenn Taylor, Sourcing Journal, 6 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for mailbox

Word History

First Known Use

1868, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of mailbox was in 1868

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Mailbox.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mailbox. Accessed 19 Oct. 2025.

Kids Definition

mailbox

noun
mail·​box ˈmā(ə)l-ˌbäks How to pronounce mailbox (audio)
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

More from Merriam-Webster on mailbox

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!