Definition of general delivery

level of service provided by the U.S. Postal Service that requires mail to be picked up at the post office by the addressee. General delivery is mandatory in some sparsely populated areas or for households without a street address, such as a secluded mountain or beach home. General delivery may also be requested by individuals who travel frequently and do not want their mail to pile up at home. General delivery recipients represent an insignificant portion of most promotion mailings and should not be of special concern to the direct-mail advertiser (see direct-mail advertising).