general delivery

noun

1. a postal service that delivers mail to a specific post office where it is held for pickup by the addressee.
2. the postal department that handles such mail.

general delivery

noun

1. an address on mail indicating that it should be kept at a specified post office until collected by the addressee
2. the mail-delivery service or post-office department that handles mail having this address

Word History and Origins

Origin of general delivery¹

An Americanism dating back to 1830–40

Example Sentences

So researchers and doctors are looking for a general delivery method, like any other medication.

From Singularity Hub 

Most hikers send at least some food drops—prepacked boxes of supplies—to themselves via the general delivery at trail-town post offices.

From Outside Online

And this week it was Mister Ham, General Delivery, United States.

From The Daily Beast

Sometimes they were sent to a street number, but often to General Delivery.

From Project Gutenberg

Lady Altringham had been quite right in her method of ensuring the general delivery of the information about the house.

From Project Gutenberg

She addressed the appeal to the General Delivery in Chicago, as he had directed in the letter he wrote as a blind.

From Project Gutenberg

Perhaps you do not think I know the difference between a general delivery window and a three-m quad, but that is a mistake.

From Project Gutenberg

If the stove draws too hard, close the damper in the pipe and shut the general delivery window.

From Project Gutenberg