: a case or container that holds a substance, device, or material which is difficult, troublesome, or awkward to handle and that usually can be easily changed: such as
a
: a tube (as of metal) containing a complete charge for a firearm and usually an initiating device (such as a primer)
b
: a case containing an explosive charge for blasting
c
: a container for insertion into a larger mechanism or apparatus
a printer ink cartridge
d
: a case for holding printed circuit chips containing a computer program
a video-game cartridge
e
f
: a small case that contains a phonograph needle and transducer and is attached to a tonearm
g
: a removable case containing a magnetic tape or one or more disks and formerly used as a computer storage medium
Examples of cartridge in a Sentence
The printer needs a new ink cartridge.
Recent Examples on the Web
Russia even built an ammunition plant in Venezuela to produce cartridges for Kalashnikov rifles.
—
Juan Pablo Spinetto, Twin Cities, 1 Feb. 2026
The physical Switch and Switch 2 editions, featuring game cartridges, sticker sheets, postcards, milk caps and a reversible cover, will ship in May.
—Payton Turkeltaub, Variety, 29 Jan. 2026
His 134 men were armed with musket, cartridge pouch, and sword in case of a hostile encounter, and the Africaansche Galey lay close by with a couple of small cannon brought forward on the bow.
—Literary Hub, 28 Jan. 2026
Projections of new optical storage archiving systems promise 1PB raw capacity optical cartridges by the 2030’s, compared to the possible 365TB raw capacity cartridge projections for LTO Gen 14.
—Thomas Coughlin, Forbes.com, 21 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for cartridge
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Juan Pablo Spinetto, Twin Cities, 1 Feb. 2026
The physical Switch and Switch 2 editions, featuring game cartridges, sticker sheets, postcards, milk caps and a reversible cover, will ship in May.
—Payton Turkeltaub, Variety, 29 Jan. 2026
His 134 men were armed with musket, cartridge pouch, and sword in case of a hostile encounter, and the Africaansche Galey lay close by with a couple of small cannon brought forward on the bow.
—Literary Hub, 28 Jan. 2026
Projections of new optical storage archiving systems promise 1PB raw capacity optical cartridges by the 2030’s, compared to the possible 365TB raw capacity cartridge projections for LTO Gen 14.
—Thomas Coughlin, Forbes.com, 21 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for cartridge
Cite this Entry
“Cartridge.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cartridge. Accessed 8 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
cartridge
noun
car·tridge
ˈkär-trij 
: a case or container that holds a substance or device which is difficult, troublesome, or awkward to handle and that can be easily changed: as
a
: a tube containing a complete charge for a firearm
b
: a holder for photographic film
c
: a device on a phonograph that changes vibrations of the needle into electrical signals
d
: a case for holding a magnetic tape or disk
e
: a case for holding integrated circuits containing a computer program
a video-game cartridge
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