plug-in

1 of 3

adjective

: designed to be connected to an electric circuit by plugging in
a plug-in toy
a plug-in circuit board

plug-in

2 of 3

noun

1
: something that plugs in
2
: a small piece of software that supplements a larger program (such as a browser)

plug in

3 of 3

verb

plugged in; plugging in; plugs in

intransitive verb

: to establish an electric circuit by inserting a plug

transitive verb

: to attach or connect to an electric receptacle (such as an outlet)

Examples of plug-in in a Sentence

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.
Adjective
Sales of battery electric cars and plug-in hybrids rose by 27.2 percent and 46.1 percent, respectively, while registrations for hybrid electrics increased by 14.2 percent between May 2024 and May 2025. Hugh Cameron, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 June 2025 Succotash first opened in a small space in the City Market in 2001, where Barden worked to turn two tabletop griddles and a $25 plug-in stove into a thriving eatery. Ilana Arougheti, Kansas City Star, 25 June 2025
Noun
Enlarge Ars Technica AutoPacific broke the data out into those looking for internal combustion engine vehicles, plug-in hybrid electric vehicles, or battery EVs. Jonathan M. Gitlin, Ars Technica, 24 Mar. 2023 Witricity has previously conducted a couple pilots with BMW on the 5 series plug-in hybrid in Europe and California using its WPT. Sam Abuelsamid, Forbes, 23 Mar. 2023 See All Example Sentences for plug-in

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1922, in the meaning defined above

Noun

1946, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1903, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Time Traveler
The first known use of plug-in was in 1903

Browse Nearby Words

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Cite this Entry

“Plug-in.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/plug-in. Accessed 30 Jun. 2025.

Kids Definition

plug-in

1 of 2 noun
ˈpləg-ˌin
: software that adds to the capabilities of a larger program (as a browser)

plug in

2 of 2 verb
: to establish an electric circuit by inserting a plug

More from Merriam-Webster on plug-in

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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