# cargo

/ˈkɑɹˌɡoʊ/ (US) · /kˈɑːɡəʊ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/cargo
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. freight or goods

noun · CEFR B1

the goods that a ship, plane, or truck carries to a destination.

For teachers: the goods or merchandise conveyed in a ship, aircraft, or motor vehicle. Often used as a collective noun for the entire load.

- The ship was carrying a heavy cargo of oil and gas across the ocean.
- The freighter was forced to remain in the harbour until the customs officials had finished inspecting the entire cargo for prohibited items.

Usage: Often used as an uncountable noun when referring to the total volume of goods.

### 2. clothing style

noun · CEFR B1

a style of trousers with many large pockets on the sides of the legs.

For teachers: a style of rugged trousers or shorts characterized by multiple large, utilitarian exterior pockets. Usually used as an attributive noun in 'cargo pants' or 'cargo shorts'.

- He wore cargo pants so he could carry his tools and phone in the side pockets.
- The fashion trend saw a resurgence of cargo trousers, originally designed for military utility but now adopted for urban streetwear.

Usage: Typically functions as an adjective or attributive noun before 'pants', 'shorts', or 'trousers'.

### 3. to load goods

verb · CEFR C2 · Technical · Formal

to load a ship or vehicle with goods to be transported.

For teachers: to load a vessel or vehicle with freight. This verbal use is significantly less common than the noun form in modern English.

- The workers began to cargo the plane early in the morning.
- The logistics company was contracted to cargo the fleet of transport ships before the winter storms made the route impassable.

Usage: Transitive verb taking the vehicle or vessel as the direct object.

## Examples

- The ship carries a heavy cargo of oil and gas.
- Ground crews worked through the night to unload the cargo from the plane before the storm arrived.
- The logistics firm specialises in the transport of perishable cargo, requiring sophisticated refrigeration systems to maintain product integrity during the long transoceanic voyage.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.