Definition

A card made of thick paper or cardboard that you can write on and send by mail without needing an envelope.

Example

I sent my friend a postcard from my vacation in Hawaii.

Conversation

I just received a beautiful postcard from my friend in Italy.

That sounds amazing! What does it look like?

It's a picture of the Colosseum; I really want to visit it someday.

You should! It's on my bucket list too, especially after seeing that postcard.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Postcard → It is formed from "post" (from Latin *postis*, meaning after or behind) and "card" (from Old French *carte*, meaning a piece of paper). The word "postcard" refers to a card sent through the mail after being written on, typically without an envelope.

Memory Tip

Think of sending a message on a 'card' that is delivered 'after' it is written — that's why a postcard is a card sent through the mail.

Visually Confused Words