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

California’s transition to electric vehicles is still underway, with more chargers for cars and trucks, more models to choose from and more ambitious sales targets. — Los Angeles Times, 4 Sep. 2026

Carter Nylon Cargo Backpack My 56-year-old mom never travels without a backpack to easily store her medicines, snacks, chargers, laptop, and even spare clothes in the compact bag. — Alyssa Morin, InStyle, 3 Sep. 2026

When a company that builds fire trucks, rail-maintenance machinery, or electric vehicle chargers is invited to bid on a big contract, the request that lands in its inbox can run to thousands of pages of technical specifications. — Jeremy Kahn, Fortune, 3 Sep. 2026

ChargePoint, unlike some EV charging companies, does not actually own and operate its chargers. — Michael Wayland, CNBC, 3 Sep. 2026

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)

15th century, 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