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

This clears out a large garage floor for storing all kinds of gear and cargo. — New Atlas, 3 July 2026

Each of us had to watch our opponent closely and time our sword slices at the exact right time to protect our cargo. — Jordan Moreau, Variety, 2 July 2026

Ever wonder how actors recreate a cargo plane plummeting to the ground? — Skyler Caruso, PEOPLE, 3 July 2026

Meanwhile, an uncertain future is on the horizon for the workers who load cargo where the lake and river meet. — Talia Soglin, Chicago Tribune, 5 July 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