charter

[chahr-ter]

noun

1. a document, issued by a sovereign or state, outlining the conditions under which a corporation, colony, city, or other corporate body is organized, and defining its rights and privileges.

2. (often initial capital letter),  a document defining the formal organization of a corporate body; constitution.

   the Charter of the United Nations.

3. authorization from a central or parent organization to establish a new branch, chapter, etc.

4. a grant by a sovereign power creating a corporation, as the royal charters granted to British colonies in America.

5. Also called charter party. a contract by which part or all of a ship is leased for a voyage or a stated time.

6. a tour, vacation, or trip by charter arrangement.

   The travel agency is offering charters to Europe and the Caribbean.

7. special privilege or immunity.

verb (used with object)

1. to establish by charter.

   to charter a bank.

2. to lease or hire for exclusive use.

   The company will charter six buses for the picnic.

3. to give special favor or privilege to.

adjective

1. of or relating to a method of travel in which the transportation is specially leased or hired for members of a group or association.

   a charter flight to Europe.

2. that can be leased or hired for exclusive or private use.

   a charter boat for deep-sea fishing.

3. done or held in accordance with a charter.

   a charter school.

charter

/ ˈtʃɑːtə /

noun

1. a formal document from the sovereign or state incorporating a city, bank, college, etc, and specifying its purposes and rights

2. (sometimes capital) a formal document granting or demanding from the sovereign power of a state certain rights or liberties

3. a document issued by a society or an organization authorizing the establishment of a local branch or chapter

4. a special privilege or exemption

5. (often capital) the fundamental principles of an organization; constitution

   the Charter of the United Nations

6. 1. the hire or lease of transportation

   2. the agreement or contract regulating this

   3. ( as modifier )

      a charter flight

7. a law, policy, or decision containing a loophole which allows a specified group to engage more easily in an activity considered undesirable

   a beggars' charter

8. maritime law another word for charterparty

verb

1. to lease or hire by charterparty

2. to hire (a vehicle, etc)

3. to grant a charter of incorporation or liberties to (a group or person)

Other Word Forms

• charterable adjective
• charterage noun
• charterer noun
• charterless adjective
• recharter verb (used with object)
• subcharter noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of charter¹

First recorded in 1200–50; Middle English chartre from Old French from Latin chartul(a) “little paper,” equivalent to chart(a) ( charta ) + -ula -ule

Word History and Origins

Origin of charter¹

C13: from Old French chartre, from Latin chartula a little paper, from charta leaf of papyrus; see _chart

Synonym Study

See hire.

Example Sentences

The NGO, Gift of the Givers, told South African media it did not know who had chartered the flight or a previous one that brought 176 Gazans on October 28.

Read more on Barron's

The resignation of two senior figures at the start of the BBC's charter renewal makes the process more difficult "at a crucial time for its future", he added.

Read more on BBC

For example, Epstein discusses chartering a plane from Scotland for the redacted user in the chat, and offers praise for their "Oxford speech".

Read more on BBC

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa says there will be an investigation into the "mysterious" arrival of a chartered plane carrying 153 Palestinians from Gaza into the country.

Read more on BBC

The prosecution has applied for £18,049.47 to be paid to Surrey Police for a chartered flight to bring Sullivan back to the UK.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

• code 
• constitution 
• contract 
• document 
• license 
• pact 
• permit 
• settlement 

When To Use

What does charter mean?

A charter is a document that defines the exact structure, rights, and organization of a state, colony, corporation, or similar, as in The American colonies were governed by charters authorized by the king of England.A charter is also authorization from a central organization for a sub-organization, like a chapter or branch.To charter means to establish a sub-organization, like a branch or colony, as in The company just chartered its fourth branch this year.A charter can also describe a trip or method of transportation that is organized and established by a corporation or group.Related to this, to charter means to rent or lease for exclusive use, such as for a trip, as in The school chartered buses to take the soccer team to away games.Example: The Charter of the United Nations established the basis for what the organization is today.