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Glite Dictionary
United States Postal Inspection Service

United States Postal Inspection Service

4.6
Federal officers who protect the mail, postal workers, and customers
  • proper noun
  • Formal
translation icon : Servicio de Inspección Postal de los Estados Unidos
  • The United States Postal Inspection Service investigates mail fraud and other postal crimes across the country.

Examples

  • After receiving suspicious packages, the United States Postal Inspection Service launched an inquiry.

  • Members of the United States Postal Inspection Service work closely with other law enforcement agencies.

  • The United States Postal Inspection Service investigates mail fraud.

  • Did you know the United States Postal Inspection Service has its own police force?

  • After receiving suspicious packages, the United States Postal Inspection Service launched an inquiry.

  • The United States Postal Inspection Service investigates mail fraud and other postal crimes across the country.

  • Members of the United States Postal Inspection Service work closely with other law enforcement agencies.

Synonyms

US Postal Inspection Service
vsUnited States Postal Inspection Service
4.3

A government agency that investigates crimes involving the mail

protects national mail workers and customers from crime and misuse of mail

Surface Forms

United States Postal Inspection Service main

Morphology

united + state + postal + inspection + service

The name is compositionally built from literal constituents — 'United States' (the nation) + 'postal' (relating to mail) + 'inspection' (official examination) + 'service' (an organization) — so a learner who knows these words can infer it is the U.S. organization that inspects/protects the postal system. This institutional naming pattern is transparent and common cross-linguistically, making the overall meaning predictable for a B1 learner.

Etymology

The United States Postal Inspection Service got its name from its job: people who 'inspect' the postal system across the United States. It began when the government needed officers to protect the mail and stop criminals who used letters and packages for crime. That's why today the name means the agency that 'protects the mail' and 'investigates postal crimes'.