ENGLISH
REFERENCE

charges

n. countable
B1 Intermediate US //ˈtʃɑɹdʒəz// charges

n. the official amount of money you must pay for a service or a product. It can also mean a formal statement by the police saying someone committed a crime.

n. the price demanded for goods or services; alternatively, a formal accusation of a crime or offense. Often used in the plural when referring to financial costs or multiple legal counts.


SIMPLE

The hotel adds extra charges for using the mini-bar.

CONTEXTUAL

After reviewing the evidence, the prosecutor decided to drop all criminal charges against the suspect due to a lack of witnesses.

COMPLEX

While the initial service fee is modest, the total cost often escalates once administrative charges and late-payment penalties are factored into the final invoice.

Synonyms
Antonyms
Usage

Frequently used in the plural ('charges') when discussing fees or legal proceedings.

Pitfall

The police put charges on himThe police brought charges against himIn a legal context, the standard collocation is to 'bring' or 'press' charges 'against' someone.

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