change-of-address
UK[ˌtʃeɪndʒ əv əˈdrɛs]US[ˌtʃeɪndʒ əv əˈdrɛs]
n
The act or process of informing an organization that one's address has changed.
n
A form or notification used to report a new address to an organization.
Morpheme Breakdown
change
of
address
change
to alter
of
belonging to
address
location
Etymology
The compound noun "change-of-address" is a modern bureaucratic formation built entirely from Germanic and Romance elements already naturalized in English. Its core, "change," originates from the Latin concept of exchange ("cambiare"), while "address" derives from the Latin idea of directing something straight ("ad-" + "directus"). The preposition "of," of Old English origin, serves as the grammatical glue. The phrase's literal logic is transparent: an "alteration belonging to one's location." It evolved as a standardized term to describe the formal notification required by institutions like postal services, banks, and government agencies when a person or business relocates, reflecting the administrative needs of complex, mobile societies.
Analysis
Structure: change (to alter) + of (belonging to) + address (location)
- change: From Old French 'changier', from Late Latin 'cambiare' (to exchange, barter). Functional role: Core noun, indicating an alteration or substitution.
- of: From Old English 'of' (from, off, away). Functional role: Preposition linking the action to its object.
- address: From Old French 'adrecier' (to set straight, direct), from Vulgar Latin 'addirectiare'. Functional role: Noun, indicating a location or place of residence.
Examples
Please submit a change-of-address form to the post office to forward your mail.
Remember to file a change-of-address with your bank when you move.
The company's change-of-address was effective from the first of the month.