charger
1 Americannoun
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a platter.
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a large, shallow dish for liquids.
noun
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a person or thing that charges
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a large strong horse formerly ridden into battle
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a device for charging or recharging an accumulator or rechargeable battery
noun
Etymology
Origin of charger1
First recorded in 1475–85; charge + -er 1
Origin of charger2
First recorded in 1275–1325, charger is from the Middle English word chargeour. See charge, -or 2
Explanation
A charger is the accessory you plug into your phone or laptop when the battery power is low. If you're bringing your digital camera with you on vacation, it's important to remember your charger. Devices that are powered by rechargeable or internal batteries need a charger to keep that battery working. When you plug a laptop charger into an outlet, a jolt of electricity recharges the laptop battery's cells. An entirely different kind of charger is a war horse — a large, sturdy animal that was trained to carry soldiers in battle. This is the 18th century meaning of charger, and it's based on the verb charge and its meaning "rush into battle."
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
But having a bidirectional charger means this stored energy can be fed back into the grid to power the flats' electrical appliances, lighting and other systems.
From Barron's • Jun. 12, 2026
A meme circulated portraying the Luce with iPhone applications photo-shopped onto the top, and another showing the car upside down and plugged into an iPhone charger.
From Los Angeles Times • May 27, 2026
The airline said the captain decided to divert "in line with safety regulations" after a passenger informed crew during the flight that the portable charger was in the hold of the aircraft.
From BBC • May 24, 2026
"Those disembarking will only be allowed to take with them a small, sealed bag containing essential items such as their documentation, mobile phone, charger, basic necessities and personal belongings."
From BBC • May 9, 2026
While Nathan powered his phone with his car charger, he checked his phone to see if either Weslee or Steven had responded to the text he had sent a few miles back.
From "Healer of the Water Monster" by Brian Young
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
