How-to Guides, Postage and Mailing, Postal Optimization, USPS
USPS Postal Terms Glossary & Mailing Acronyms (A–Z Guide)
123 | A | B | C | D |
E | F | G | H | I |
J | | K | L| M | | N | O | P | Q |
R | S | T | U |
V | W | X | Y | Z
Understanding postal terminology dictates how well you manage high-volume print and mail operations. We stripped out the generic tech jargon and focused strictly on the USPS regulations, barcoding standards, and presort rules that impact your bottom line.
Find definitions for common USPS mailing terms, postal acronyms, and business mail concepts. This glossary covers address quality, mail classes, presort preparation, postage payment, barcodes, and delivery services.
Use this directory to clarify bulk mail classifications, automation standards, and address hygiene acronyms.
A – Addressing and Automation Terms
Address Change Service (ACS)
A USPS service that provides participating mailers with electronic change-of-address information and reasons for nondelivery after mail enters the postal system. Mailers can use ACS data to update their records and reduce repeated mailings to outdated addresses.
Address Quality
The accuracy, completeness, and currency of the addresses in a mailing list. Address quality services can identify missing information, match addresses to USPS delivery records, and update addresses following customer moves.
Address Service Requested
An ancillary service endorsement that tells USPS how to handle mail when it cannot be delivered as addressed. Depending on the mail class and how long ago the recipient moved, USPS may forward or return the mail and provide address correction information. Applicable postage and fees vary.
Ancillary Service Endorsement
A USPS-approved instruction printed on a mailpiece that requests forwarding, return, or address correction services. Examples include “Address Service Requested,” “Change Service Requested,” and “Electronic Service Requested.” Handling and charges depend on the endorsement, mail class, and applicable service options.
Area Distribution Center (ADC)
A USPS facility that processes and distributes mail for a designated geographic area. ADC also identifies a presort grouping for mail addressed within that facility’s service area.
Automation-Compatible Mail
Mail designed and prepared for USPS automated processing equipment. Eligibility depends on factors such as mailpiece dimensions, flexibility, address readability, and barcode placement.
Automation Prices
Postage prices available for qualifying mail prepared for automated USPS processing. For letter and flat mail, eligibility includes applicable address, barcode, mailpiece design, and preparation requirements. Adding a barcode alone does not establish eligibility.
B – Business and Bulk Mail
Bulk Mail
A common term for large-volume mailings prepared to qualify for commercial postage prices. Bulk mail is not a separate USPS mail class. The applicable requirements depend on the mail class, quantity, design, and preparation method.
Business Mail Entry Unit (BMEU)
The area of a USPS facility where business mailers present commercial mail for verification and acceptance. A BMEU helps confirm that a mailing meets the requirements for the postage prices claimed.
Business Reply Mail (BRM)
A USPS service that allows a business to provide customers with a preaddressed reply envelope, card, or other qualifying piece without requiring the customer to pay return postage. The permit holder pays postage and applicable per-piece fees for responses received. Permit and other account fees may also apply.
C – Address Certification and Mail Preparation Terms
Carrier Route
The delivery route assigned to a USPS carrier. Carrier route information is used in address coding and certain commercial mail preparation categories.
Certified Mail
A USPS extra service that provides a mailing receipt and a record of delivery or attempted delivery. Return Receipt is a separate service that can be added when the sender needs a returned delivery record with a recipient’s signature.
Change of Address (COA)
A request submitted to USPS to redirect mail from an old address to a new address. Customer-filed change-of-address records are used by services such as NCOALink and ACS to help mailers maintain current addresses.
Change Service Requested
An ancillary service endorsement used to request address correction information and specified handling of undeliverable mail. The outcome depends on the mail class and service option. For First-Class Mail, this endorsement is available only with electronic ACS.
Coding Accuracy Support System (CASS)
A USPS certification program that evaluates the accuracy of address-matching software. CASS-certified software helps standardize addresses and assign applicable postal codes and address data.
CASS processing and change-of-address processing serve different purposes. CASS evaluates address matching, while NCOALink identifies qualifying customer moves.
Commercial Mail
Business mail prepared under USPS commercial mailing requirements. Qualifying mail may receive postage prices that reflect presorting, automation preparation, or other work performed before USPS acceptance.
Courtesy Reply Mail (CRM)
A preaddressed reply envelope or card provided by a business for a customer’s response. Unlike Business Reply Mail, the customer supplies the return postage.
D – Delivery and Destination Entry Terms
Delivery Point Code
Address coding that identifies a specific USPS delivery point. For many addresses, an 11-digit delivery point routing code combines the five-digit ZIP Code, the four-digit add-on, and two additional delivery point digits. This information can be encoded in an Intelligent Mail barcode.
Delivery Point Validation (DPV)
A USPS address quality product that checks whether an address is represented in USPS delivery data as a known delivery point. DPV can help identify address issues, but it does not confirm that a particular person or business currently occupies that address.
Destination Entry
The practice of entering mail at a designated USPS facility closer to its final delivery destination. Eligible mailings may qualify for destination entry discounts when they meet the applicable preparation and entry requirements.
Destination Sectional Center Facility (DSCF)
The destination sectional center facility designated for a mailing’s entry. Entering qualifying mail at the appropriate DSCF can support destination entry pricing where available.
Direct Mail
Advertising or promotional material delivered through the mail, such as postcards, letters, brochures, and catalogs. Direct mail describes the marketing channel, not a USPS mail class. Many campaigns use USPS Marketing Mail.
Domestic Mail Manual (DMM)
The USPS reference for domestic mailing standards. It contains requirements for mail classes, prices, preparation, postage payment, addressing, and extra services.
E – Electronic Services and Route-Based Mailing
Electronic Service Requested
An ancillary service endorsement used with ACS. It directs USPS to handle undeliverable mail according to the service instructions established in the mailer’s ACS profile or encoded through the Intelligent Mail barcode.
Every Door Direct Mail (EDDM)
A USPS service that allows businesses to send advertising mail to selected delivery routes without purchasing a list of individual names and street addresses. EDDM is a route-based mailing service, not a separate mail class.
Extra Services
Optional USPS services that add capabilities such as proof of mailing, signature records, or insurance. Examples include Certified Mail, Registered Mail, and Return Receipt. Availability depends on the mail class and service combination.
F – Mail Classes and Mailpiece Formats
First-Class Mail
A USPS mail class used for eligible letters, postcards, and large envelopes. Business uses include bills, statements, customer correspondence, and certain notices. Content requirements help determine whether a document must be sent as First-Class Mail rather than USPS Marketing Mail.
Flats
The postal term for large envelopes and other flat-size mailpieces. Flats must meet USPS requirements for dimensions, flexibility, and thickness. A piece that looks like a large envelope does not automatically qualify as a flat.
Folded Self-Mailer
A folded mailpiece sent without an outer envelope. Examples include certain promotional letters and brochures. Its paper, folds, dimensions, and closures must meet the applicable USPS preparation requirements.
Forwarding Service Requested
An ancillary service endorsement that requests forwarding when an eligible change-of-address order is available. If forwarding is unavailable or the forwarding period has expired, USPS may return the piece with the reason for nondelivery. Handling and charges vary by mail class.
This endorsement is not an approved method for meeting the USPS Move Update standard.
Full-Service Intelligent Mail
A USPS mailing option that builds on Intelligent Mail barcode requirements with additional mail identification and electronic documentation standards. It supports greater visibility into eligible mailings and access to applicable Full-Service benefits.
I – Indicia and Intelligent Mail
Indicia
Postal markings that indicate how postage is paid. In commercial mailing, “indicia” commonly refers to the printed postage block used for permit imprint mail.
Intelligent Mail Barcode (IMb)
A 65-bar USPS barcode used to sort and track letters, postcards, and flats. It encodes mail identification and service information, along with routing information when included.
The IMb is required for letters and flats prepared for automation prices. It supports mail processing visibility, but it should not be described as a recipient-signature delivery record.
L – Address Conversion Terms
LACSLink
A USPS address quality product that updates addresses changed through local address conversions, such as rural route addresses converted to street-style addresses. It addresses changes to the address itself, rather than a customer moving to another location.
M – Mailing Identification, Payment and Address Updates
Mail Class
A USPS category that determines applicable content, preparation, pricing, and service requirements. Examples include First-Class Mail, USPS Marketing Mail, and Priority Mail. Mailpiece formats and services, such as flats or EDDM.
Mailer Identifier (MID)
A number assigned by USPS to identify a mail owner or mailing agent. The MID is one of the fields used in the Intelligent Mail barcode.
Mailer Scorecard
A USPS reporting dashboard that summarizes a mailer’s letter and flat mailing activity over a calendar month. Available through the Business Customer Gateway, it provides mail quality metrics and detailed error reports to help mail owners and mailing service providers identify preparation issues. Errors exceeding applicable USPS thresholds may result in additional postage assessments.
Mailing Permit
USPS authorization to use a specified postage payment method for commercial mail. A mailing permit and a permit imprint are related but different: the permit is the authorization, while the imprint is the postage marking placed on the mailpiece.
Metered Mail
Mail bearing postage printed by an authorized postage meter or postage evidencing system. Metered mail may still need additional preparation to qualify for particular commercial prices.
Move Update
A USPS standard designed to reduce mail that requires forwarding or return because a recipient has moved. Subject to applicable exceptions, mailers claiming First-Class Mail presorted or automation prices, or USPS Marketing Mail prices, must update their address records using an approved method within 95 days before mailing.
Approved methods include NCOALink, ACS, and certain ancillary service endorsements.
N – Change of Address Processing
NCOALink
A USPS address update product that matches mailing records against permanent change-of-address records filed by individuals, families, and businesses. Mailers use NCOALink processing before mailing to update qualifying address matches and support Move Update compliance.
NCOALink is not the same as CASS processing. One identifies recorded moves; the other evaluates address-matching accuracy.
O – Address Correction Services
OneCode ACS
An ACS option that uses information encoded in the Intelligent Mail barcode to request electronic address corrections. It combines information that would otherwise be printed separately for Traditional ACS processing.
P – Postage Payment and Presorting
Permit Imprint
A printed postage marking used by an authorized mailer instead of an adhesive stamp or meter imprint. USPS verifies and accepts the commercial mailing, and postage is paid through the applicable mailing account. Printing a permit imprint on a piece does not, by itself, pay its postage.
Presort
The process of grouping mail by ZIP Code or other required postal destinations before presenting it to USPS. Presort requirements depend on the mail class, mailpiece format, and postage category claimed.
Presort Discounts
Lower postage prices available for mailings prepared to meet USPS presort requirements. Eligibility depends on more than sorting alone and may include minimum quantities, address quality, documentation, and mailpiece preparation.
Priority Mail
A USPS service used for eligible documents and packages. Pricing options and mailing requirements depend on packaging, weight, destination, and other applicable standards.
R Reply Mail and Delivery Records
Registered Mail
A USPS extra service that provides additional security and documented handling for eligible mail. It serves a different purpose from Certified Mail, which provides evidence of mailing and a delivery or attempted-delivery record.
Reply Mail
Mail prepared for a recipient to return to a business or organization. Common formats include Business Reply Mail, where the permit holder pays return postage, and Courtesy Reply Mail, where the respondent supplies postage.
Return Receipt
A USPS extra service that provides the sender with a delivery record, including the recipient’s signature and delivery information. Depending on the eligible service combination, the receipt may be provided electronically or as a physical postcard.
Return Receipt is separate from Certified Mail and must be requested when needed.
S – Mail-Class Names and Address Enhancement
Standard Mail
The former name for USPS Marketing Mail. Use “USPS Marketing Mail” when discussing the current mail class. “Standard Mail” remains useful as a cross-reference for readers working with older documents or terminology.
SuiteLink
A USPS address quality product that adds known secondary business address information, such as a suite number, to qualifying address records. It can improve addresses that are missing information needed for delivery sequencing.
T – Tracking
Tracking
A general term for information about a mailpiece’s movement or delivery status. USPS Tracking, Intelligent Mail barcode visibility, and a mailing provider’s internal production tracking are different capabilities. Specify which type of tracking is included rather than treating them as interchangeable.
U – Undeliverable Mail & USPS Marketing Mail
Undeliverable-as-Addressed (UAA)
Mail that USPS cannot deliver to the address shown. Causes include incomplete or incorrect addresses and recipients who have moved. USPS may forward, return, or dispose of the piece according to the mail class, available address information, and applicable endorsements.
USPS Marketing Mail
A USPS mail class commonly used for advertising, promotional material, catalogs, and other eligible content not required to be sent as First-Class Mail or Periodicals.
Mailings generally must contain at least 200 pieces or 50 pounds. Forwarding and return services are not automatically included and may require an ancillary service endorsement and additional charges.
Z – Zip Codes
ZIP Code
The five-digit USPS code used to identify a postal delivery area. ZIP Codes help route mail and organize commercial mailings for presort preparation.
ZIP+4
A five-digit ZIP Code followed by a four-digit add-on that identifies a more specific delivery segment. ZIP+4 information supports address coding and automated mail processing.
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Contact FSSI to discuss your mailing requirements, address processing, mailpiece preparation, and postage options.