philately

[ fi-lat-l-ee ]
/ fɪˈlæt l i /

noun

the collecting of stamps and other postal matter as a hobby or an investment.
the study of postage stamps, revenue stamps, stamped envelopes, postmarks, postal cards, covers, and similar material relating to postal or fiscal history.

Origin of philately

1860–65; < French philatélie < Greek phil- phil- + atéleia freedom from charges (taken to mean recipient's freedom from delivery charges by virtue of the stamp which sender affixed to the letter), literally, want of taxation, equivalent to a- a-6 + tél(os) tax + -eia -y3

OTHER WORDS FROM philately

phil·a·tel·ic [fil-uh-tel-ik] /ˌfɪl əˈtɛl ɪk/, phil·a·tel·i·cal, adjective phil·a·tel·i·cal·ly, adverb phi·lat·e·list [fi-lat-l-ist] /fɪˈlæt l ɪst/, noun

Words nearby philately

philander, philanthropic, philanthropist, philanthropize, philanthropy, philately, philby, philem., philemon, philharmonic, philharmonic pitch

Example sentences from the Web for philatelist

British Dictionary definitions for philatelist

philately
/ (fɪˈlætəlɪ) /

noun

the collection and study of postage stamps and all related material concerned with postal history

Derived forms of philately

philatelic (ˌfɪləˈtɛlɪk), adjective philatelically, adverb philatelist, noun

Word Origin for philately

C19: from French philatélie, from philo- + Greek ateleia exemption from charges (here referring to stamps), from a- 1 + telos tax, payment