: designed to be connected to an electric circuit by plugging in
a plug-in toy
a plug-in circuit board
1
: something that plugs in
2
: a small piece of software that supplements a larger program (such as a browser)
plugged in; plugging in; plugs in
: to establish an electric circuit by inserting a plug
: to attach or connect to an electric receptacle (such as an outlet)
Examples of plug-in in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Mark Phelan, USA Today, 27 Sep. 2025
From this site, the plug-in hybrid SUV is expected to be exported to more than 70 markets.
—Bojan Stojkovski, Interesting Engineering, 27 Sep. 2025
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
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Adjective
All-wheel drive is standard, with either gasoline or plug-in hybrid power.
—Mark Phelan, USA Today, 27 Sep. 2025
From this site, the plug-in hybrid SUV is expected to be exported to more than 70 markets.
—Bojan Stojkovski, Interesting Engineering, 27 Sep. 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
Cite this Entry
“Plug-in.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/plug-in. Accessed 29 Sep. 2025.
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