cartridge

noun

car·​tridge ˈkär-trij How to pronounce cartridge (audio)
 dialectal  ˈka-trij
: 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
: an often cylindrical container for insertion into a larger mechanism or apparatus
e
: a small case that contains a phonograph needle and transducer and is attached to a tonearm
f
: a removable case containing a magnetic tape or one or more disks and used as a computer storage medium
g
: a case for holding printed circuit chips containing a computer program
a video-game cartridge

Examples of cartridge in a Sentence

The printer needs a new ink cartridge.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
There has been at least one other seizure in Cap-Haïtien since the April 5 incident — two 9mm pistols and 13 9mm-caliber cartridges were discovered in a blue drum in a container shipped from South Florida on April 29. Jay Weaver, Miami Herald, 5 Mar. 2025 To capture and analyze the odor of the nine mummies, the team emulated a technique used by perfumers to collect the aroma of rare flowers or other odors in the wild: gently vacuuming a scent into a cartridge. Sarah Everts, Smithsonian Magazine, 13 Feb. 2025 Check them all out below, including a top-of-the-line Logitech racing wheel that puts players right inside their favorite driving games, a display-worthy Lego Pac-Man arcade cabinet, and a new Atari console that plays the company’s vintage cartridges through an HDMI input. Clint Davis, People.com, 7 Feb. 2025 On the very first day alone, a total of 65 unexploded practice bombs -- weighing approximately 10 pounds each -- were recovered in an area of less than one square mile with smoke cartridges also being recovered from the same site. Jon Haworth, ABC News, 12 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for cartridge

Word History

Etymology

alteration of earlier cartage, modification of Middle French cartouche

First Known Use

1626, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of cartridge was in 1626

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Cartridge.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cartridge. Accessed 22 Mar. 2025.

Kids Definition

cartridge

noun
car·​tridge ˈkär-trij How to pronounce cartridge (audio)
: 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
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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