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 of cargo

• 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

Blue Origin New Glenn carrying Blue Moon Mark 1 (MK1), a single-launch, lunar cargo lander that remains on the surface. —Richard Tribou, The Orlando Sentinel, 29 Apr. 2026

Its extortion network alone extended from western to central Mexico, directly affecting both individuals and companies involved in transportation, fuel and commercial cargo. —Rocío Muñoz-Ledo, CNN Money, 29 Apr. 2026

Six construction workers died March 26, 2024, when a cargo ship struck the Key Bridge in Baltimore, sending it collapsing into the Patapsco River. —Mike Stunson, USA Today, 29 Apr. 2026

The cause of the plane’s malfunctions is, duh, random sparks from annoying Dan’s charger starting a fire in cargo. —David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 28 Apr. 2026

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