philately

[ fi-lat-l-ee ]

noun

1. the collecting of stamps and other postal matter as a hobby or an investment.
2. the study of postage stamps, revenue stamps, stamped envelopes, postmarks, postal cards, covers, and similar material relating to postal or fiscal history.

philately

/ fɪˈlætəlɪ; ˌfɪləˈtɛlɪk /

noun

1. the collection and study of postage stamps and all related material concerned with postal history

Derived Forms

• ˌphilaˈtelically, adverb
• phiˈlatelist, noun
• philatelic, adjective

Other Words From

• phil·a·tel·ic [fil-, uh, -, tel, -ik], phil·a·tel·i·cal adjective
• phil·a·tel·i·cal·ly adverb
• phi·lat·e·list [fi-, lat, -l-ist], noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of philately¹

First recorded in 1860–65; from French philatélie, from Greek phil- phil- + atéleia “freedom from charges” (taken to mean recipient's freedom from delivery charges by virtue of the stamp which sender affixed to the letter), literally, “want of taxation,” equivalent to a- a- ⁶ + tél(os) “tax” + -eia -y ³

Word History and Origins

Origin of philately¹

C19: from French philatélie, from philo- + Greek ateleia exemption from charges (here referring to stamps), from a- ¹+ telos tax, payment

Example Sentences

Jake’s mom shouted when he answered “A stamp” for the question “In philately, what is an Inverted Jenny?”

From Literature

Biographer Harold Nicolson was more caustic, saying George was “a stupid old bore” whose personal life revolved around his twin obsessions of pheasant shooting and philately.

From Washington Post

Graham Shircore, chief executive of Stanley Gibbons, called it "the Holy Grail of philately".

From BBC

“You’re talking about two of the most iconic pieces in all of Stamp World, all of philately,” he said.

From New York Times

"It's another way in which technology has made the trade much more open and fairer. The internet has been the best thing for philately."

From BBC