WordGarden.iopostmistress
C1Pronunciation
UK
- /pˈəʊstmɪstrəs/
US
Meanings
Noun
a woman in charge of a post office
Beyond the definition
Once upon a time, before automated sorting machines and digital communication, the local post office was one of the busiest places in town. In many places, the woman running it was called the postmistress. She was the person in charge of the post office, handling mail, helping customers, and keeping things in order. The word was used as the female form of "postmaster." Today, the term is much less common, but it still appears in historical writing and stories set in earlier times.
The word postmistress refers to a woman who holds the position of postmaster, the person responsible for managing and operating a post office. In the past, especially in small towns and rural areas, this was an important local job because the post office was a key place for sending and receiving news, letters, and parcels. A postmistress might supervise the handling of mail, assist customers, and keep the office running smoothly.
The term became common when gendered job titles were standard. "Postmaster" was used for a man in charge of a post office, while "postmistress" was used for a woman in the same role. Because of that, the word often appears in older documents, historical fiction, and stories about village or town life.
Today, with changes in language and workplace titles, postmistress is much less common. Modern usage usually prefers less gendered job titles, so the word now has a historical feel. You are most likely to see it in older texts, family history records, or writing that wants to create the atmosphere of an earlier age.
Examples
- 1
Postal work
The postmistress sorted the morning mail before opening the counter.
- 2
Historical role
She became postmistress of a small town in 1912.
- 3
Modern workplaces
In many modern workplaces, people would say "postmaster" or "post office manager" instead of "postmistress."
- Caution
postmistress can sound old-fashioned because it marks the person as female
See also
Similar
- postmaster
- post office manager
Shades of meaning
- subpostmistress
Contrast
- mail carrier
- postal clerk
Used with (collocations)
- local postmistress
- village postmistress
- postmistress of [place]
Explore
- post office
- postal service
Forms and spellings
1 form open this card.
Main spelling
- postmistressnoun