pillar box

noun

ˈpi-lər-ˌbäks

variants or less commonly pillar-box

British

: a pillar-shaped mailbox

Word History

First Known Use

1855, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler

The first known use of pillar box was in 1855

See more words from the same year

Browse Nearby Words

pillar bolt

pillar box

pillar crane

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Pillar box.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pillar%20box. Accessed 17 Sep. 2025.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

jovial

Listen to the pronunciation of jovial

See Definitions and Examples »

Get Word of the Day daily email!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

Using Bullet Points ( • )

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)

A Guide to Using Semicolons

The Difference Between 'i.e.' and 'e.g.'

Popular in Wordplay

Great Big List of Beautiful and Useless Words, Vol. 3

Color Words to Describe Autumn Leaves

Our Best Historical Slang Terms

'Za' and 9 Other Words to Help You Win at SCRABBLE

12 Words Whose History Will Surprise You

Popular

Using Bullet Points ( • )

Great Big List of Beautiful and Useless Words, Vol. 3

Color Words to Describe Autumn Leaves