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)

Derived Forms

• ˈcharterer, noun

Other Words From

• charter·a·ble adjective
• charter·age noun
• charter·er noun
• charter·less adjective
• re·charter verb (used with object) noun
• subcharter noun verb

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

It is part of an agenda driven by conservative parental rights groups and politicians who promote charter schools and voucher systems that could weaken public education.

From Los Angeles Times

In July Scotland became the first part of the UK to incorporate a UN charter on children's rights into law.

From BBC

Sion Roberts, a chartered tax adviser based in north-west Wales said he believed anywhere between 50 and 100 of the farmers on his own firm's books would be affected.

From BBC

But the council punted that decision to the Charter Reform Commission, which will propose additional charter changes for the 2026 ballot.

From Los Angeles Times

The research did not include heads of states or politicians, who are more likely to fly in chartered rather than privately owned planes.

From BBC

Related Words

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

More About Charter

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.

Where does charter come from?

The first records of the term charter come from the 1200s. It ultimately comes from the Latin chartula, meaning “little paper.”

Physical charters are important parts of history, international affairs, and the business world because they explicitly describe the formation of, values of, and organization of groups that have influence over a large number of people. The charters that governed the colonies in the United States are still studied today to better understand how the colonies worked.

Anything that is established, or chartered, by a group has the full support of the parent organization. A good example of this is a charter school, which acts independently from the local department of education but still receives government funding.

Unchartered is commonly misused to mean “unexplored,” as a substitute for uncharted, but unchartered actually means “without proper authority.”

Did you know … ?

What are some other forms related to charter?

• charterable (adjective)
• charterage (noun)
• charterer (noun)
• charterless (adjective)
• recharter (noun, verb)

What are some synonyms for charter?

• authorize
• code
• constitution
• document
• employ

What are some words that share a root or word element with charter?

• charter colony
• carte
• charta
• charter member

What are some words that often get used in discussing charter?

• ethics
• organization
• rules
• school

How is charter used in real life?

Charters are common in states, corporations, and other organizations.

Ellen DeGeneres gave the whole senior class of Summit Academy Charter School full four-year scholarships to any New York state university.

— UberFacts (@UberFacts) February 26, 2017

A DC to Philly charter flight is one of the most insane expenditures I've ever heard of.

— Chris Hayes (@chrislhayes) September 20, 2017

MT @SthembileCel: JZ reminds all it is also the 60th anniversary of the Freedom Charter. Document upon which SA freedom is founded #ANCNGC

— City Press (@City_Press) October 9, 2015

 

 

Try using charter!

Which of the following is NOT a synonym for charter?

A. deny
B. authorize
C. employ
D. allow