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Synonyms

plug-in

American  
[pluhg-in] / ˈplʌgˌɪn /

adjective

  1. capable of or designed for being connected to an electrical power source by plugging in or inserting: a plug-in transistor.

    a plug-in hair dryer;

    a plug-in transistor.

noun

  1. plug.

  2. jack.

  3. a plug-in appliance.

  4. Computers. a small software program that builds additional functionality into a stand-alone computer application.

    Your web browser can’t display this video without a plug-in.
plug in British  

verb

  1. (tr, adverb) to connect (an electrical appliance) with a power source by means of an electrical plug

"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

noun

  1. a device that can be connected by means of a plug

  2. 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

  3. computing ( as modifier )

    plug-in memory cards
"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
plug-in Scientific  
/ plŭg′ĭn′ /

  1. An accessory software or hardware package that is used in conjunction with an existing application or device to extend its capabilities or provide additional functions.

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.

Porsche last year said it would scale back its EV ambitions following the slow uptake of the technology and instead expand its lineup with more gas-powered and plug-in hybrid models.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 10, 2026

Marjorie Radlo-Zandi, an angel investor in Boston, found that her Audi Q5 plug-in hybrid was the perfect blend of EV and gasoline vehicle.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 10, 2026

Searches for used plug-in hybrids rose 7%, while searches for used traditional hybrids rose 4%.

From Barron's • Apr. 7, 2026

The government said it was working with major retailers like Lidl and Amazon to make plug-in solar available on the high street.

From BBC • Mar. 23, 2026

Painted wooden saints with severe mouths stand alongside plastic plug-in Virgins with sixty-watt bulbs.

From "Dreaming in Cuban" by Cristina García

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.