charter 1 of 2

noun

Definition of charternext
1
as in treaty

Synonyms & Similar Words

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2
as in grant

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

charter

2 of 2

verb

1
as in to rent
to take or get the temporary use of (something) for a set sum charter a boat

Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in to enable
British to give official or legal power to a London firm seeking the services of a chartered accountant

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How is the word charter different from other verbs like it?

Some common synonyms of charter are hire, lease, let, and rent. While all these words mean "to engage or grant for use at a price," charter applies to the hiring or letting of a vehicle usually for exclusive use.

charter a bus to go to the game

How do hire and let relate to one another, in the sense of charter?

Both hire and let, strictly speaking, are complementary terms, hire implying the act of engaging or taking for use and let the granting of use.

we hired a car for the summer
decided to let the cottage to a young couple

In what contexts can lease take the place of charter?

While in some cases nearly identical to charter, lease strictly implies a letting under the terms of a contract but is often applied to hiring on a lease.

the diplomat leased an apartment for a year

When would rent be a good substitute for charter?

The words rent and charter are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, rent stresses the payment of money for the full use of property and may imply either hiring or letting.

instead of buying a house, they decided to rent
will not rent to families with children

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of charter
Noun
The disagreement centers around NASCAR’s system of charters, which are franchise-like licenses that guarantee entry into every race and additional revenue. —Jeff Gluck, New York Times, 29 May 2025 Transferring to your charter for a stay at sea is akin to arriving at a private hangar. —Eileen Falkenberg-Hull, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 May 2025
Verb
Bernstein and her friends played some pickleball on the ship, chartered a tiki boat for some sightseeing, went paddle boarding and enjoyed massages at the Redemption Spa. —Erin Clack, People.com, 12 May 2025 The team has to coordinate between two airline partners, chartering a Boeing 757 from Delta and a Boeing 737-800 from United, to handle travel parties of sometimes more than 100 in all. —Jack Harris, Los Angeles Times, 23 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for charter
Recent Examples of Synonyms for charter
  1. treaty
  2. grant
  3. rent
  4. enable
  5. contract
  6. patent
  7. hire
  8. authorize
Noun
  • The United States is one of the 184 countries, plus the European Union, that have signed the treaty.
    — Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 6 June 2025
  • But even now, decades later, the U.S. has fewer missile interceptors deployed (44) than the treaty permitted (100).
    — Matthew Bunn, The Conversation, 6 June 2025
Definition of treaty
Noun
  • The city had sought an Environmental Protection Agency grant last year to pay for the removal cost, but missed the grant cycle at the time.
    — Jake Goodrick, Sacbee.com, 12 June 2025
  • Tax filings show the foundation gave away more than $325,000 in grants for scholarships, fellowships and cash awards in 2023.
    — James Pollard, Chicago Tribune, 12 June 2025
Definition of grant
Verb
  • The group who rents out the synagogue decided that women are allowed to pants, though Barbara notes that she’s never seen the pastor’s wife in anything but skirts or dresses.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 12 June 2025
  • That’s because nobody appears to be renting in the Hamptons this summer.
    — Benjamin Svetkey, HollywoodReporter, 11 June 2025
Definition of rent
Verb
  • And this summer, the calculations have been further complicated by FIFA allowing an additional, earlier short summer window to enable clubs competing in the upcoming Club World Cup to bolster their squads before the tournament.
    — Steve Madeley, New York Times, 16 June 2025
  • By 2001, Marlena had been approved for a low-income housing voucher, enabling the sisters – and their mom – to move into a five-bedroom home.
    — Jayme Fraser, USA Today, 16 June 2025
Definition of enable
Noun
  • Joe Hart is sent out on loan for the final year of his contract.
    — Jordan Campbell, New York Times, 12 June 2025
  • Instead, the promotion did not offer her a new contract after her current deal expired following the loss to Wang at UFC 316.
    — Trent Reinsmith, Forbes.com, 12 June 2025
Definition of contract
Noun
  • Back then, filing a patent or trademark was a fairly simple process.
    — Joe Hudicka, Forbes.com, 13 June 2025
  • Doucet has since filed a patent application for the technology.
    — Rosa Rahimi, CNN Money, 9 June 2025
Definition of patent
Verb
  • The company hired McKinsey to develop a growth playbook for CNN.
    — Dev Patnaik, Forbes.com, 7 June 2025
  • Yet while hiring generally has slowed, other economists figured job growth remained sturdy last month as companies frustrated by labor shortages during the pandemic continued to curtail layoffs.
    — Paul Davidson, USA Today, 7 June 2025
Definition of hire
Verb
  • By Friday, Marines had been deployed in Los Angeles, with little clarity on whether their guns contained live rounds and under what circumstances they were authorized to fire.
    — Anita Chabria, Los Angeles Times, 14 June 2025
  • An overwhelming 90% of the members of Vox Media Union had voted Thursday to authorize a strike if a deal was not reached by the time their current contract expired at 11:59 p.m.
    — Todd Spangler, Variety, 13 June 2025
Definition of authorize

Browse Nearby Words

charted
charter
chartered
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Cite this Entry

“Charter.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/charter. Accessed 19 Jun. 2025.

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More from Merriam-Webster on charter

Nglish: Translation of charter for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about charter

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