postage
B1Neutral to formal.
Definition
Meaning
The amount charged by a postal service for carrying and delivering a letter or parcel.
The system of, or activity involving, the payment for postal services; can refer to stamps or fees collectively.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily a non-count noun denoting a cost or fee. Can be used attributively (e.g., postage costs). Does not refer to the physical stamps themselves, but the price/value they represent.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Both varieties use the word identically. In the UK, 'post' is more common for the service itself (Royal Mail), while in the US it's 'mail' (USPS), but 'postage' is standard for the cost.
Connotations
Neutral commercial/administrative term in both.
Frequency
Equally common in both varieties.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
postage + for + [noun phrase] (postage for the parcel)postage + on + [noun phrase] (postage on a letter)postage + of + [amount] (postage of £2.50)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “P&P (postage and packing)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Invoicing for postage and packing; calculating postage costs for bulk mailings.
Academic
Rare, except in historical contexts (e.g., 'the introduction of uniform postage').
Everyday
Asking about the cost to send a letter or parcel; buying stamps.
Technical
In philately, referring to the value indicated on a stamp.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The postage for a letter is one pound.
- I need a stamp for the postage.
- Don't forget to include postage and packing in the total price.
- What's the postage on this parcel to France?
- The invoice itemised the postage costs separately from the goods.
- Vintage stamps may have a collectible value far exceeding their original postage.
- The company absorbed the postage fees as part of its customer loyalty scheme.
- The 1840 introduction of the Penny Post standardised postage across Britain.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: POST + AGE. The 'age' of sending something by POST comes with a cost.
Conceptual Metaphor
POSTAGE IS A TAX ON DISTANCE (paying to bridge physical gap).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'почта' (post office/mail). 'Postage' is specifically the cost ('почтовый тариф', 'стоимость пересылки').
- The Russian word 'пошлина' is a duty/tax, not postage.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'postage' to refer to a physical stamp (incorrect: 'I put a postage on the envelope' correct: 'I put a stamp on' or 'I paid the postage').
- Confusing 'postage' with 'postal' (adjective).
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is the primary meaning of 'postage'?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is generally uncountable. You do not say 'postages'. You refer to 'the postage' or 'postage costs'.
'Postage' specifically refers to costs for sending items via a national postal service (e.g., Royal Mail, USPS). 'Shipping' is broader, covering all carriers (postal, courier, freight) and is more common in e-commerce.
No, that is incorrect. A 'postage stamp' is a stamp that evidences payment of postage. The word 'postage' alone refers to the fee, not the physical object.
Common questions are: 'How much is the postage?', 'What's the postage on this?', or 'How much for postage to [country]?'.