plug-in
adjective
capable of or designed for being connected to an electrical power source by plugging in or inserting: a plug-in transistor.
plug in
British
verb
noun
-
a device that can be connected by means of a plug
-
computing a module or piece of software that can be added to a system to provide extra functions or features, esp software that enhances the capabilities of a web browser
-
computing ( as modifier )
plug-in memory cards
plug-in
Scientific
/ plŭg′ĭn′ /
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of plug-in
First recorded in 1920–25; adjective and noun use of verb phrase plug in
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.
See Examples For:
New-energy vehicles, including plug-in hybrids and battery EVs, accounted for more than half of Geely’s total deliveries in the first half.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 17, 2026
Sales of fully-electric and plug-in hybrid models grew 15% and accounted for 53% of all Volvo cars sold globally, it added.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 4, 2026
Fully electric and plug-in hybrid sales accounted for less than 8% of all car sales in June, down from a peak of just over 12% right before the tax break was killed off.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 4, 2026
It said that 52 percent of its passenger car sales in Europe are now electrified vehicles -- fully electric, plug-in hybrids and non-plug-in hybrids -- up from 43.8 percent in the first half of 2025.
From Barron's ● Jul. 23, 2026
I drop to my knees and rummage through, finally landing upon my beloved/hated Nokia plug-in.
From "Better Nate Than Ever" by Tim Federle
With digital cameras offering an element of surprise when you plug in the memory card reader to your computer at home, digital cameras capture a moment in time.
From BBC ● Aug. 8, 2026
It’s coming at a time when electricity demand is rising, in large part because of the artificial-intelligence race and the need to plug in more data centers.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 25, 2026
When they get home, the residents of a small housing association on the outskirts of Hudiksvall, Sweden, plug in their electric vehicles to charge them or, intriguingly, power their homes.
From Barron's ● Jun. 12, 2026
“I just plug in the same way I always have. I have spent zero seconds modifying my behavior as a result of this war.”
From MarketWatch ● May 2, 2026
Upstairs, I plug in my phone and lie down on the bed.
From "The Girl on the Train" by Paula Hawkins
Customers can create private plug-ins from scratch or customize plug-ins based on Claude’s starter templates, which include options for human resources, equity research, engineering, wealth management, and other functions.
From Barron's ● Feb. 23, 2026
The Cowork plug-ins were like a match on dry tinder.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 5, 2026
The company also released plug-ins for finance, customer service and other areas.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 3, 2026
A wave of new hybrid models is coming online in 2025, both traditional hybrids and plug-ins.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jan. 15, 2025
“With plug-ins, like for guitar or piano. Or you can use a sampler.”
From "Amina's Song" by Hena Khan
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.
