zip code

1 of 2

noun

variants or less commonly ZIP code
plural zip codes also ZIP codes
1
: a number that identifies a particular postal delivery area in the U.S.
2
: the geographic area identified by a zip code

zip-code

2 of 2

verb

ˈzip-ˌkōd How to pronounce zip-code (audio)
zip-coded; zip-coding; zip-codes

transitive verb

: to furnish with a zip code

Examples of zip code in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
On Fisher Island, one of the wealthiest ZIP codes in the country, there’s a big one. — Catherine Odom, Miami Herald, 1 July 2026 Search for your address, ZIP code or water system name to see how many oil field disposal wells are within a half-mile of a drinking water well. — Nick Bowlin, ProPublica, 30 June 2026
Verb
Health coverage should not be a zip-code lottery. — Jesse Jackson Jr, Washington Post, 4 Feb. 2026 Socioeconomic status is one factor that can limit a child’s access to the arts, but things like race and zip-code can play a role as well. — Michelle Aslam, Dallas News, 10 Mar. 2023 See All Example Sentences for zip code

Word History

Etymology

Noun

zone improvement plan

First Known Use

Noun

1962, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1962, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of zip code was in 1962

Rhymes for zip code

See All Rhymes for zip code

Browse Nearby Words

Zipaquirá
zip code
zip-code
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Zip code.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/zip%20code. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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Kids Definition

zip code

noun
: a number that identifies each postal delivery area in the U.S.

More from Merriam-Webster on zip code

Nglish: Translation of zip code for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about zip code

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