charger

1 of 2

noun (1)

char·​ger ˈchär-jər 

: a large flat dish or platter

charger

2 of 2

noun (2)

charg·​er ˈchär-jər 

1

: one that charges: such as

a

: an appliance for holding or inserting a charge of powder or shot in a gun

b

: a cartridge clip

c

: a device for charging storage batteries

2

: a horse for battle or parade

Examples of charger in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The advisory, issued on August 20 by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), urged agencies to scan chargers, roadside weather stations, and traffic cameras for rogue radios or other components embedded in inverters and batteries. —Sujita Sinha, Interesting Engineering, 11 Sep. 2025

Some people are less concerned because they’re always connected to a portable charger. —Janhoi McGregor, Forbes.com, 11 Sep. 2025

Battery life gets you through most of the day without scrambling for a charger. —Shubham Yewale, PC Magazine, 11 Sep. 2025

Using the optional 12-/24-V charger out in the field raises that time up between 10 and 12 hours. —New Atlas, 10 Sep. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle English chargeour, borrowed from Anglo-French, from charger "to load, burden" + -eour -er entry 2 — more at charge entry 1

Note: Oxford English Dictionary, first edition, Middle English Dictionary, and Französisches etymologisches Wörterbuch treat the etymon of this word as distinct from the etymon of charger entry 2, presumably on the grounds that the suffix, here designating a place, goes back to -eoir, from Latin -ātōrium, though there is little evidence for this in manuscript spellings. The meaning "dish or platter" found in Anglo-French appears not to have a parallel on the continent.

Noun (2)

Middle English chargere "someone who loads or burdens," from charger "to load, burden" + -ere -er entry 2 — more at -er entry 2 — more at charge entry 1

Note: See note at charge entry 1.

First Known Use

Noun (1)

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Noun (2)

1539, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for charger

• barger
• larger
• discharger
• supercharger
• turbocharger

Kids Definition

charger

1 of 2 noun

char·​ger ˈchär-jər 

: a large flat dish or platter

charger

2 of 2 noun

charg·​er

ˈchär-jər

1

: a cavalry horse

2

: a device for charging storage batteries