cargo

noun

car·​go ˈkär-(ˌ)gō 

plural cargoes or cargos

: the goods or merchandise conveyed in a ship, airplane, or vehicle : freight

Dock workers were unloading the ship's cargo.

Synonyms

• payload
• burden
• loading
• load
• freight

Examples of cargo in a Sentence

The ship was carrying a cargo of crude oil.

we put all of our cargo on the pack animals and began our journey through the canyon

Recent Examples on the Web

Weighing approximately 81 lbs (37 kg), the Jumper Go supports a maximum payload of 450 lbs (204 kg), including a rear rack capable of carrying up to 150 lbs (68 kg) of cargo. —New Atlas, 11 July 2025

Inside is precious cargo — dozens of carne asada burritos, hand-wrapped in tinfoil. —Yasara Gunawardena, Los Angeles Times, 10 July 2025

With fewer Chinese cargo expected to enter the U.S. in August into the fall months, ocean carriers will be monitoring capacity levels to hold rates up. —Glenn Taylor, Sourcing Journal, 10 July 2025

Shipping takes time: Sea cargo shipments can take weeks to more than a month to reach the US from other countries. —Alicia Wallace, CNN Money, 10 July 2025

Word History

Etymology

Spanish, load, charge, from cargar to load, from Late Latin carricare — more at charge entry 1

First Known Use

1657, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing cargo

• cargo cult
• cargo pants
• cargo pocket

Rhymes for cargo

• acknow
• aglow
• ago
• airglow
• aloe
• altho
• although
• ammo
• backflow
• backhoe
• banjo
• barbeau

Kids Definition

cargo

noun

car·​go ˈkär-ˌgō 

plural cargoes or cargos

: the goods transported in a ship, airplane, or vehicle : freight