charter

[ chahr-ter ]

/ ˈtʃɑr tər /

Save This Word!

See synonyms for: charter / chartered / chartering on Thesaurus.com

noun

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.

(often initial capital letter) a document defining the formal organization of a corporate body; constitution: the Charter of the United Nations.

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

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

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

a tour, vacation, or trip by charter arrangement: The travel agency is offering charters to Europe and the Caribbean.

special privilege or immunity.

verb (used with object)

to establish by charter: to charter a bank.

to lease or hire for exclusive use: The company will charter six buses for the picnic.

to give special favor or privilege to.

adjective

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.

that can be leased or hired for exclusive or private use: a charter boat for deep-sea fishing.

done or held in accordance with a charter: a charter school.

QUIZ

ALL IN FAVO(U)R OF THIS BRITISH VS. AMERICAN ENGLISH QUIZ

There's an ocean of difference between the way people speak English in the US vs. the UK. Are your language skills up to the task of telling the difference? Let's find out!

Question 1 of 7

True or false? British English and American English are only different when it comes to slang words.

true

false

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of charter

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

synonym study for charter

9. See hire.

OTHER WORDS FROM charter

char·ter·a·ble, adjectivechar·ter·age, nounchar·ter·er, nounchar·ter·less, adjective

re·char·ter, verb (used with object), nounsubcharter, noun, verb

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH charter

charted, chartered

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use charter in a sentence

Fanfare and failure On Saturday, April 18, the first of two chartered Korean Air flights arrived at BWI airport, its belly loaded with 350,000 LabGun tests packed in dry ice.
Hogan’s first batch of coronavirus tests from South Korea were flawed, never used|Steve Thompson|November 20, 2020|Washington Post
Measure D – which is now enshrined in Section 301 of the city charter – does not give board members blanket authority to remove someone from office.
Despite New Removal Process, Beiser Likely to Stay on School Board|Will Huntsberry|November 17, 2020|Voice of San Diego
The defense ranks as the 10th worst this season per the game charters at Pro Football Focus, who subjectively rate each play.
It’s really hard to describe how bad the Jets are, but here’s our best effort|Neil Greenberg|November 12, 2020|Washington Post
The building today is the site of a charter school, Akili Academy, where Room 2306 is the Ruby Bridges Room.
Lucille Bridges, who stood by daughter Ruby through school desegregation, dies at 86|Emily Langer|November 12, 2020|Washington Post

In August 2006, Google Sitemaps officially expanded its charter and became Webmaster Central.
301 redirect: Google Webmasters Central to Google Search Central|Barry Schwartz|November 11, 2020|Search Engine Land
There was little difficulty in chartering steamers to carry supplies to "The Islands."
The Supplies for the Confederate Army|Caleb Huse
I was near being delayed a day at Calais, France, but succeeded in chartering a boat to take me over the Channel.
My Life in Many States and in Foreign Lands|George Francis Train
Mayo's plan involved the modest venture of chartering a craft suitable for fishing.
Blow The Man Down|Holman Day
Who could tell whether in the pursuit of science he might not insist on chartering a vessel, himself, for the Peruvian coast?
Orley Farm|Anthony Trollope
Incontrovertible proof of this charge was found in special legislation chartering banks and other corporations.
A History of Trade Unionism in the United States|Selig Perlman

British Dictionary definitions for charter

charter

/ (ˈtʃɑːtə) /

noun

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

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

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

a special privilege or exemption

(often capital) the fundamental principles of an organization; constitutionthe Charter of the United Nations

the hire or lease of transportation
the agreement or contract regulating this
(as modifier)a charter flight

a law, policy, or decision containing a loophole which allows a specified group to engage more easily in an activity considered undesirablea beggars' charter

maritime law another word for charterparty

verb (tr)

to lease or hire by charterparty

to hire (a vehicle, etc)

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

Derived forms of charter

charterer, noun

Word Origin for charter

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

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

charter

Origin of charter

synonym study for charter

OTHER WORDS FROM charter

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH charter

Words related to charter

How to use charter in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for charter

Derived forms of charter

Word Origin for charter