post master general
Preserved but no longer current.
Meaning · English
The prime minister, who has the patronage of all posts and places.
Era: ca. 1811 (Georgian)
Where it’s used:
Origin
British & Irish English
Sources & notes
Historical definition reproduced from Grose’s Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue (1811 edition, public domain; Project Gutenberg #5402, retrieved 2026-07-31). Reflects the attitudes of its era.
Common questions
What does “post master general” mean?
The prime minister, who has the patronage of all posts and places.
Is “post master general” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.