: a case or container that holds a substance, device, or material which is difficult, troublesome, or awkward to handle and that usually can be easily changed: such as
a
: a tube (as of metal) containing a complete charge for a firearm and usually an initiating device (such as a primer)
b
: a case containing an explosive charge for blasting
c
: a container for insertion into a larger mechanism or apparatus
a printer ink cartridge
d
: a case for holding printed circuit chips containing a computer program
a video-game cartridge
e
f
: a small case that contains a phonograph needle and transducer and is attached to a tonearm
g
: a removable case containing a magnetic tape or one or more disks and formerly used as a computer storage medium
Examples of cartridge in a Sentence
The printer needs a new ink cartridge.
Recent Examples on the Web
This generally means muzzleloaders that use black powder or a black powder substitute, though some early cartridge guns are included.
—
Allen G. Breed, Los Angeles Times, 14 May 2026
In 2024, a man was sentenced to 31 years in a London prison for a scheme that used printer toner cartridges to smuggle drugs for multiple crime organizations.
—Scharon Harding, ArsTechnica, 13 May 2026
The newer model Taser carries a maximum 1,000 volts instead of 50,000 volts, can reach 45 feet instead of 25 feet and can carry 10 cartridges instead of two, Schepman said Friday.
—Shelly Bradbury, Denver Post, 8 May 2026
No one wanted these little mints that came out of a plastic cartridge.
—Luke Burbank, CBS News, 3 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for cartridge
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Allen G. Breed, Los Angeles Times, 14 May 2026
In 2024, a man was sentenced to 31 years in a London prison for a scheme that used printer toner cartridges to smuggle drugs for multiple crime organizations.
—Scharon Harding, ArsTechnica, 13 May 2026
The newer model Taser carries a maximum 1,000 volts instead of 50,000 volts, can reach 45 feet instead of 25 feet and can carry 10 cartridges instead of two, Schepman said Friday.
—Shelly Bradbury, Denver Post, 8 May 2026
No one wanted these little mints that came out of a plastic cartridge.
—Luke Burbank, CBS News, 3 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for cartridge
Cite this Entry
“Cartridge.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cartridge. Accessed 20 May. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
cartridge
noun
car·tridge
ˈkär-trij 
: a case or container that holds a substance or device which is difficult, troublesome, or awkward to handle and that can be easily changed: as
a
: a tube containing a complete charge for a firearm
b
: a holder for photographic film
c
: a device on a phonograph that changes vibrations of the needle into electrical signals
d
: a case for holding a magnetic tape or disk
e
: a case for holding integrated circuits containing a computer program
a video-game cartridge
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