Charlie

American  

[chahr-lee] / ˈtʃɑr li /

noun

1. a word used in communications to represent the letter C.

2. Military Slang. Also Charley Victor Charlie.

3. a male given name, form of Charles.

4. a female given name.

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charlie ¹ British  

/ ˈtʃɑːlɪ /

noun

1. informal a silly person; fool

2. old-fashioned a girl or woman

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Charlie ² British  

/ ˈtʃɑːlɪ /

noun

1. communications a code word for the letter c

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Charlie ³ British  

/ ˈtʃɑːlɪ /

noun

1. slang military a member of the Vietcong or the Vietcong collectively

   Charlie hit us with rockets

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Charlie ⁴ British  

/ ˈtʃɑːlɪ /

noun

1. slang cocaine

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Etymology

Origin of charlie¹

C20: for sense 1: shortened from Charlie Hunt, rhyming slang for _cunt ; sense 2 is shortened from Charlie Wheeler, rhyming slang for _sheila

Origin of Charlie³

shortened from Victor Charlie, communications code for VC, abbreviation of Vietcong

Example Sentences

A24's latest dark romantic comedy, The Drama, sees Zendaya and Robert Pattinson play Emma and Charlie, a soon-to-be married couple whose relationship is tested after a surprise revelation in the days before their wedding.

From BBC • Apr. 23, 2026

Nomura strategist Charlie McElligott has also spent weeks talking about a dearth of investors willing to bet on markets rising.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 20, 2026

Turning Point USA, founded by the late conservative activist Charlie Kirk, has built a network of thousands of student chapters nationwide.

From Salon • Apr. 18, 2026

That’s true even for the mighty Rolling Stones, who in 2021 lost drummer Charlie Watts.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 17, 2026

Charlie wasn’t entirely broke up to see Glenn’s sorry state, and he put the stove back together.

From "The Teacher’s Funeral" by Richard Peck