Word forms: plural, 3rd person singular presenttense charters, present participle chartering, past tense, past participle chartered
1. countable noun
A charter is a formal document describing the rights, aims, or principles of an organization or group of people.
...Article 50 of the United Nations Charter.
...the Social Charter of workers' rights.
2. adjective [ADJECTIVE noun]
A charter plane or boat is one which is hired for use by a particular person or group and which is not partof a regular service.
...the last charter plane carrying out foreign nationals.
...frequent charter flights to Spain.
3. verb
If a person or organization charters a plane, boat, or other vehicle, they hire it for their own use.
He chartered a jet to fly her home from California to Switzerland. [VERB noun]
They arrived in a yacht chartered by the sports management company. [VERB-ed]
Synonyms: hire, commission, employ, rent More Synonyms of charter
4.
See a charter for sth
More Synonyms of charter
charter in British English
(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.
a.
the hire or lease of transportation
b.
the agreement or contract regulating this
c.
(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(transitive)
9.
to lease or hire by charterparty
10.
to hire (a vehicle, etc)
11.
to grant a charter of incorporation or liberties to (a group or person)
Derived forms
charterer (ˈcharterer)
noun
Word origin
C13: from Old French chartre, from Latin chartula a little paper, from charta leaf of papyrus; see chart
charter in American English
(ˈtʃɑrtər)
noun
1.
a franchise or written grant of specified rights made by a government or ruler to a person, corporation, etc.
2.
a.
a document setting forth the aims and principles of a united group, as of nations
b.
the constitution of a city, setting forth its governmental organization and powers
c. [C-]
the Charter of the United Nations
3.
a document by which a society authorizes the organization of a local chapter or lodge
4.
a special privilege or exemption
5.
a.
the hire or lease of a ship, bus, airplane, etc.
b.
the agreement governing this
6. English
an instrument, esp. a deed
verb transitive
7.
to grant a charter to
8.
to hire or lease by charter
9.
to hire for exclusive use
SIMILAR WORDS: hire
Derived forms
charterer (ˈcharterer)
noun
Word origin
ME chartre < OFr < L chartula, dim. of charta: see card1
Examples of 'charter' in a sentence
charter
Royal aides faced having to charter planes and book hotels if it cannot be fixed.
The Sun (2016)
Was Radio 3 scrutinised during the charter renewal process?
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
After charter renewal, though, there will surely be cuts.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
An election is one big commercial for its licence fee and charter renewal.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
MPs fished for his views on the warring plans for a royal charter.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
So we chartered a small plane to take us there.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
The committee would then issue recommendations which could inform negotiations for the new charter.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
The commandos had to charter a fishing boat instead.
The Sun (2008)
Surf charter boats have proved a godsend to the aid effort.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
The city charter only requires that the city secretary verify that the signatures are from voters within the city.
Christianity Today (2000)
But neither is a passive charter.
Roper, Jon Democracy and its Critics - Anglo-American democratic thought in the nineteenth century (1989)
At the same time a royal charter was granted, making the town a city.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
One chartered a yacht - for his dog.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
It was part of a charter protecting employees' rights.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
House of Lords committee on charter renewal.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
That's why he insisted its royal charter should contain strict safeguards.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
Up to 700 people an hour fled in special charter planes.
The Sun (2008)
The King gave the new charter his personal seal of approval within days of its completion.
Benjamin Woolley THE HERBALIST: Nicholas Culpeper Rebel Physician (2004)
A royal charter is granted by the exercise of prerogative powers.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Prior to my appointment, political opponents of education reform had successfully made charter school growth as difficult as possible.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
Politicians have finally acknowledged that they cannot run schools, which is why governments globally are turning to autonomous charter schools.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
The publishers signed up in defiance of the royal charter, which they say could allow politicians to interfere in press freedom.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
So if in the heat of charter renewal and spending cuts radio is the unacknowledged elephant, it risks getting thinner and paler.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
The ruling is part of a charter that forms the basis of a self-regulation scheme for fundraising to be launched in the new year.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
The first two British charter jets picked up 413 refugees last night.
The Sun (2011)
As with charter schools in America, not all academies will succeed.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
The current charter was granted in 2006, when video on demand barely existed.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
In other languages
charter
British English: charter NOUN
A charter is a formal document that describes the rights or principles of an organization.
...a new charter on transport policies to reduce the effects of pollution.
American English: charter
Brazilian Portuguese: alvará
Chinese: 宪章
European Spanish: estatuto
French: charte
German: Charta
Italian: carta
Japanese: 宣言書
Korean: 헌장
European Portuguese: carta
Latin American Spanish: estatuto
British English: charter VERB
If a person or organization charters a plane, boat, or other vehicle, they hire it for their own use.
He chartered a jet to fly her home.
American English: charter
Brazilian Portuguese: fretar
Chinese: 包租
European Spanish: fletar
French: affréter
German: chartern
Italian: noleggiare
Japanese: チャーターする
Korean: 전세내다
European Portuguese: fretar
Latin American Spanish: fletar
All related terms of 'charter'
charter plane
a plane that has been chartered
charter train
a train that has been chartered
time charter
the hire of a ship or aircraft for a specified period
charter colony
a colony , such as Virginia or Massachusetts , created by royal charter under the control of an individual, trading company, etc, and exempt from interference by the Crown
charter flight
a flight booked by a holiday company to transport their customers
charter member
A charter member of a club , group, or organization is one of the first members, often one who was involved in setting it up.
charter school
(in N America) a publicly funded independent school founded by a community group under the terms of a charter with a national or local authority
Social Charter
a declaration of the rights, minimum wages , maximum hours , etc, of workers in the European Union, later adopted in the Social Chapter
voyage charter
the hire of a ship or aircraft for a specified number of voyages
Atlantic Charter
the joint declaration issued by F . D. Roosevelt and Winston Churchill on Aug 14, 1941, consisting of eight principles to guide a postwar settlement
Citizen's Charter
(formerly, in Britain) a government document setting out standards of service for public and private sector bodies, such as schools, hospitals , railway companies, water and energy suppliers, etc
tenants' charter
(in Britain) a package of legal rights to which tenants of local authorities, new towns, and housing associations are entitled , including security of tenure , and the rights to buy the dwelling cheaply, to take in lodgers , and to sublet
a charter for sth
If you describe a decision or policy as a charter for someone or something you disapprove of, you mean that it is likely to help or encourage them.
Chinese translation of 'charter'
charter
(ˈtʃɑːtəʳ)
vt
包租 (bāozū)
n(c)
宪(憲)章 (xiànzhāng)
1 (noun)
Definition
a formal document granting or demanding certain rights or liberties
In Britain, city status is granted by royal charter.
Synonyms
document
right
a woman's right to choose
contract
bond
permit
He has to apply for a permit before looking for a job.
licence
The painting was returned on a temporary import licence.
concession
The government has granted concessions to three private companies.
privilege
The ancient powers and privileges of the House of Commons.
franchise
the franchise to build and operate the tunnel
deed
He asked if I had the deeds to his father's property.
prerogative
I thought it was a woman's prerogative to change her mind?
indenture
2 (noun)
Definition
the fundamental principles of an organization
The Prime Minister also attacked the social charter.
Synonyms
constitution
The king was forced to adopt a new constitution which reduced his powers.
laws
rules
code
This crime is included in the penal code on treason.
1 (verb)
Definition
to lease or hire by charter
He chartered a jet to fly her home.
Synonyms
hire
To hire a car you must produce a current driving licence.
commission
employ
The company employs 18 staff.
rent
He rented a car.
lease
She went to Toronto, where she leased an apartment.
2 (verb)
Definition
to grant a charter to
The council is chartered to promote the understanding of British culture throughout the world.
Synonyms
authorize
We are willing to authorize a police raid.
permit
I was permitted to bring my camera into the concert.
Our constitution does not permit the sending of troops.
sanction
He may seem ready to sanction the use of force.
entitle
Your contract entitles you to a full refund.
license
the council can license a U.S. company to produce the drug
empower
The trustees of the museum are empowered to sell items from its collection.
give authority
Additional synonyms
in the sense of code
This crime is included in the penal code on treason.
Synonyms
law,
rules,
regulations,
constitution,
charter,
canon,
jurisprudence
in the sense of concession
Definition
any grant of rights, land, or property by a government, local authority, or company
The government has granted concessions to three private companies.
Synonyms
privilege,
right,
permit,
licence,
franchise,
entitlement,
indulgence,
prerogative
in the sense of deed
Definition
a legal document, esp. one concerning the ownership of property
He asked if I had the deeds to his father's property.