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

Innovative styles include a fleece corset ($125), a canvas cropped button-up ($125), a cargo short ($155), a team graphic tee ($110), the WNBA tee ($110), and the WNBA fleece hoodie ($185) in addition to a jogger ($145). —Essence, 8 Sep. 2025

Both rows provide generous space for adults, and cargo space ranges from 26 cubic feet to 60 with the seats folded flat. —Josh Max, Forbes.com, 8 Sep. 2025

For travelers flying with airlines that do not allow pets in the cabin, pets may be required to travel in the cargo hold. —Soo Kim, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Sep. 2025

The largest container ports in Bangladesh and India are continuing to feel the heat of congestion as record cargo volumes flow through their gateways. —Glenn Taylor, Sourcing Journal, 8 Sep. 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