1. the act or process of applying postage stamps or markings to mail before it is officially franked or processed by the postal service
Usage: philately; postal history

1. to apply postage or official markings to mail in advance of standard postal processing
Usage: philately; postal history

Examples

• Collectors study prefranking on historical letters to understand early postal practices.
• The museum's exhibit featured envelopes showing prefranking techniques from the 19th century.
• Prefranking allowed senders to indicate payment before mail reached the post office.
• Philatelists examine prefranking marks to date and authenticate vintage correspondence.