POB
Abbreviation with 2 meanings
| Stands for | Place of birth |
|---|---|
| Meanings | 2 |
| Categories | Writing & Everyday |
POB has two meanings. It stands for Place of birth (everyday) or Post office box (mail and postal).
Meanings of POB at a glance
| # | POB stands for | Context |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Place of birth | Writing & Everyday › Everyday |
| 2 | Post office box | Writing & Everyday › Mail and Postal |
1. Place of birth
Writing & Everyday · Everyday Abbreviations
Labels the field on passports, visa applications, birth certificates and genealogical records where a person's birthplace is recorded, typically the city and country.
Example: Passport application, section 4: POB (city, state, country) as shown on your birth certificate.
US passports show only the state for holders born in the United States, or the country for those born abroad. Genealogists treat recorded birthplaces cautiously, because records sometimes give the place of baptism or registration instead. In mail, POB means post office box, so forms usually spell out the field name.
2. Post office box
Writing & Everyday · Mail and Postal Abbreviations
Abbreviates a post office box, a lockable mailbox rented at a post office, in addresses and on forms. Businesses and individuals use one for privacy, security or where there is no street delivery.
Example: Mail payments to Riverside Clinic, POB 4472, Fresno, CA 93744.
USPS prefers "PO BOX" in capitals without periods on the delivery line, while "P.O. Box" is common in ordinary typing. Private carriers such as UPS and FedEx cannot deliver to USPS boxes, and many banks and couriers require a street address. On forms, POB can also mean place of birth.
Related abbreviations
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- pkg – Package
- prev. – Previous
- PSA – Public service announcement
- Q&A – Question and answer
- qty – Quantity
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