: 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
Chandelis Duster, NPR, 7 Sep. 2025
The credits do not apply to every package offered on some electric car or truck or plug-in hybrid models.
—Susan Tompor, USA Today, 5 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
The recall by Chrysler, issued on Thursday, includes 2022 to 2026 plug-in hybrid electric models of the SUV — affecting 91,787 vehicles.
—Chandelis Duster, NPR, 7 Sep. 2025
The credits do not apply to every package offered on some electric car or truck or plug-in hybrid models.
—Susan Tompor, USA Today, 5 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 9 Sep. 2025.
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