field post office: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Low / Historical / TechnicalFormal / Military / Historical
Quick answer
What does “field post office” mean?
A temporary or mobile post office operated by a military unit in the field, handling mail for military personnel.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A temporary or mobile post office operated by a military unit in the field, handling mail for military personnel.
In a broader historical context, any military or expeditionary postal service operating outside of a fixed civilian infrastructure.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The term itself is identical. Historically, both British and American armies used such units. Related terminology might differ (e.g., 'military post' or 'APO/FPO' in modern US context).
Connotations
In the UK, it strongly connotes World War I and II. In the US, it may also connote the Civil War, World Wars, and later conflicts like Vietnam.
Frequency
Equally low and historical in both varieties. More likely found in historical documents, memoirs, or military history texts than in contemporary usage.
Grammar
How to Use “field post office” in a Sentence
The [military unit] established a field post office at [location].Mail was sorted at the field post office.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “field post office” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The unit was ordered to field-post-office the mail from the forward base.
American English
- They needed to field post office the correspondence from the remote outpost.
adverb
British English
- The mail was processed field-post-office style, under a canvas sheet.
American English
- They operated field-post-office, using whatever tables were available.
adjective
British English
- The field-post-office service was crucial for morale.
American English
- He worked in a field-post-office capacity for three months.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not applicable.
Academic
Used in historical, military history, or philatelic (stamp collecting) contexts.
Everyday
Virtually never used in contemporary everyday conversation.
Technical
Used in military logistics, postal history, and philately.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “field post office”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “field post office”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “field post office”
- Using 'field post office' to describe a rural civilian post office.
- Treating it as a common compound noun without understanding its specific military-historical context.
- Incorrect capitalization (it is not a proper noun unless part of a specific title).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. A 'field post office' is a specific military unit for handling soldiers' mail in operational areas. A village post office is a permanent civilian facility.
In modern militaries, the function exists but is more commonly referred to by terms like 'APO' (Army/Air Post Office) or 'FPO' (Fleet Post Office). 'Field post office' is now primarily a historical term.
It would be technically incorrect and confusing. That is a 'mobile post office' or 'temporary post office'. 'Field post office' has an unbreakable military association.
Its primary purpose is logistical and psychological: to ensure reliable mail delivery to and from military personnel in the field, which is critical for maintaining morale and connection to home.
A temporary or mobile post office operated by a military unit in the field, handling mail for military personnel.
Field post office is usually formal / military / historical in register.
Field post office: in British English it is pronounced /ˌfiːld ˈpəʊst ˌɒfɪs/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌfiːld ˈpoʊst ˌɔːfɪs/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[No common idioms directly associated with this specific term]”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a post office in a *field* of tents, with soldiers mailing letters home instead of farmers harvesting crops.
Conceptual Metaphor
THE MILITARY IS A SOCIETY (with its own mobile civic institutions).
Practice
Quiz
In which context would you most likely encounter the term 'field post office'?