# What does ZIP mean?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-zip-mean/829>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [June 3, 1999, 7:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-zip-mean/829 "1999-06-03T07:33:00Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 6\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/original/2X/e/e489c3b7d8fce19c4b355dd4fc3f88cc39c34b87.png) [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\
**Post date:** [June 3, 1999, 7:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-zip-mean/829/1 "1999-06-03T07:33:00Z")

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What does the ZIP stand for in a postal ZIP Code?

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**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/original/2X/e/e489c3b7d8fce19c4b355dd4fc3f88cc39c34b87.png) [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\
**Post date:** [June 3, 1999, 8:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-zip-mean/829/2 "1999-06-03T08:37:00Z")

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[http://www.m-w.com/](http://www.m-w.com/) says:

Main Entry: zip code  
Function: noun  
Usage: often capitalized Z&I&P  
Etymology: _z_one _i_mprovement _p_lan  
Date: 1963  
: a number that identifies each postal delivery area in the U.S.

Holger

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**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/original/2X/e/e489c3b7d8fce19c4b355dd4fc3f88cc39c34b87.png) [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\
**Post date:** [June 3, 1999, 9:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-zip-mean/829/3 "1999-06-03T09:40:00Z")

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For a time before ZIP codes were introduced, there was a simpler system, that divided towns into zones, which you included in the address. For example, my parent’s address was “Arlington 5, Virginia”. The ZIP code system gave a unique number to each zone nationwide, for example, in the case of my parents, 22205. The later nine-digit expansion of the ZIP codes further subdivided the zones.

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**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/original/2X/e/e489c3b7d8fce19c4b355dd4fc3f88cc39c34b87.png) [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\
**Post date:** [June 3, 1999, 12:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-zip-mean/829/4 "1999-06-03T12:24:00Z")

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The use of “ZIP codes” was an advertising gimmick to get people to start using the new five-digit system (instead of the one digit zones that preceded them.)

Outside the US, these things are called simply “postal codes” which is much more reasonable.

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**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/original/2X/e/e489c3b7d8fce19c4b355dd4fc3f88cc39c34b87.png) [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\
**Post date:** [June 3, 1999, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-zip-mean/829/5 "1999-06-03T23:23:00Z")

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> [@](#):
>
> What does the ZIP stand for in a postal ZIP Code?

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Zone Improvment Plan is of course the real answer, but we used to have a calendar at work that showed chimpanzees in various postal outfits, engaged in various work activities, and armed with postmark stampers.  
The caption on one photo read: Zip code means we zip it back and forth across the country before delivery.  
If you only knew,

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**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/original/2X/e/e489c3b7d8fce19c4b355dd4fc3f88cc39c34b87.png) [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\
**Post date:** [June 13, 1999, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-zip-mean/829/6 "1999-06-13T22:53:00Z")

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[[For a time before ZIP codes were introduced, there was a simpler system, that divided towns into zones, which you included in the address. For example, my parent’s address was “Arlington 5, Virginia”. The ZIP code system gave a unique number to each zone nationwide, for example, in the case of my parents, 22205. The later nine-digit expansion of the ZIP codes further subdivided the zones.]]

Hey! That’s also _my_ ZIP code!