Definition
The person in charge of a post office, responsible for overseeing mail delivery operations, managing staff, and ensuring postal services run smoothly. Historically, a significant position in community leadership.
Etymology
From 'post' (mail system, from Latin 'positus' meaning placed at stations) + 'master' (one in control, from Latin 'magister'). The position evolved with organized postal systems in the 17th century, when reliable mail delivery required trusted local administrators.
Kelly Says
Postmasters were once among the most important people in small towns, controlling the flow of information and often serving as unofficial community leaders. Benjamin Franklin was one of America's first postmasters general, recognizing that communication networks were essential to democracy.
Translations
AMአማርኛ
ፖስታ ማስተረከቢያ
phosʷta mas.tɛ.rɛ.kɛ.bɪ.ja
ARالعربية
مدير البريد
mu.dīr al.barīd
BNবাংলা
ডাক অধীক্ষক
ḍāk adhīkṣak
CACatalà
mestre de correus
meʃ.tre de ku.re.us
CSČeština
poštovní mistr
poʃtɔv.niː mɪstr
DADansk
postmester
poʂtˈmæs.tər
DEDeutsch
Postmeister
poʃtˈmaɪstɐ
ELΕλληνικά
ταχυδρομικός
taχyðro.mikós
ESEspañol
jefe de correos
xe.fe de ko.re.os
FAفارسی
رییس پست
ri.is post
FISuomi
postimestari
pos.ti.me.sta.ri
FRFrançais
maître de poste
mɛ.tʁə də pɔst
GUGU
તપાલ વિભાગનો વડા
tapāl vibhāg.no va.ḍa
HAHA
shugaban ofishin wasiku
ʃu.gaba.n ofi.shin wa.siku
HEעברית
ראש הדואר
roʃ ha.do.ar
HIहिन्दी
डाक अधीक्षक
ḍāk adhīkṣak
HUMagyar
postamester
pos.tɑ.me.stɛr
IDBahasa Indonesia
kepala kantor pos
kə.pala kan.tor pos
IGIG
onye isi ụlọ ọfịs
o.nye i.si u.lo o.fis
ITItaliano
capo ufficio postale
ka.po ufˈfɪ.tʃo po.sta.le
JA日本語
郵便局長
yūbinkyoku-chō
KKKK
пошта басшысы
poʃta basʃɯsɯ
KMKM
ប្រធានបេឡាក់
prɑ.tʰiən be.laːk
MRMR
पोस्ट मास्टर
posṭ māsṭar
MSBahasa Melayu
ketua pejabat pos
kə.tua pə.dʒa.bat pos
MYမြန်မာ
စာတိုက်မှူး
sə.tè mhu
NLNederlands
postmeester
postˈmeːstər
NONorsk
postmester
poʂtˈmæs.tər
PAPA
ਡਾਕ ਮਾਸਟਰ
ḍāk māsṭar
PLPolski
naczelnik poczty
na.t͡ʂɛlnik ˈpɔt͡ʂtɨ
PTPortuguês
chefe de correios
ʃe.fi dɨ ku.ʁe.jus
RORomână
șef de poștă
ʃef de poʃ.tə
RUРусский
почтмейстер
poʂtˈmajstər
SVSvenska
postmästare
poʂt.mɛː.sta.re
SWKiswahili
mkuu wa posta
m.kuu wa pos.ta
TAதமிழ்
அஞ்சல் தலைவர்
aṉjal talaivar
TEతెలుగు
తపాలా శాఖాధికారి
tapālā śākhādhikāri
THไทย
ผู้อำนวยการไปรษณีย์
pʰûu am.nuay kaan praisanii
TLTL
hepe ng koreo
he.pe ng ko.re.o
TRTürkçe
posta müdürü
pos.ta mü.dürü
UKУкраїнська
поштмейстер
poʂtˈmajstər
URاردو
ڈاک کا سربراہ
ḍāk kā sar.barāh
VITiếng Việt
trưởng bưu điện
trưởng bưu điệ.n
YOYO
olùdarí ilé ìṣẹ́
o.lu.dari i.le i.ʃe
ZH中文
邮政局长
yóu zhèng jú zhǎng
ZUZU
isikhulu sesitaladi
i.si.khu.lu se.si.tala.di
Ethical Language Guidance
Gender History
The term 'postmaster' solidified in English during the 16th-17th centuries as a male-gendered title; women were legally barred from postal service leadership roles in most countries until the 20th century.
Inclusive Usage
Use 'postmaster' for any person or 'postal service director' as gender-neutral alternative when appropriate.
Inclusive Alternatives
["postal director","postal service chief","mail service administrator"]
Empowerment Note
Women fought for decades to access postal leadership; early female postmasters faced extraordinary legal barriers and were often demoted despite their qualifications.