# charter

/ˈtʃɑɹtɝ/ (US) · /tʃˈɑːtɐ/ (UK)

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

## Senses

### 1. official document

noun · CEFR B2 · Formal

a formal document from a government or ruler that gives a city, university, or company certain rights.

For teachers: a formal document issued by a sovereign or state authority, creating a public or private corporation and defining its privileges and purposes.

- The university was founded under a royal charter granted in the nineteenth century.
- The city council argued that the proposed state law violated the municipal charter established during the town's incorporation.

Usage: Often used with 'royal' or 'municipal' to describe the founding documents of old institutions.

### 2. hiring transport

noun · CEFR B2

the act of hiring a private plane, boat, or bus for a specific group or purpose.

For teachers: the commercial leasing or hiring of a vessel, aircraft, or other vehicle for a specific journey or period.

- The football team took a private charter to the championship game.
- The company arranged a yacht charter for the executive retreat, ensuring complete privacy during their coastal tour.

Usage: Commonly used as a noun adjunct, as in 'charter flight' or 'charter boat'.

### 3. encouraging bad behavior

noun · CEFR C1 · British English

a rule or situation that makes it easy for people to do something bad or unwanted.

For teachers: a provision or set of circumstances whose unintended consequence is to facilitate or encourage an undesirable activity.

- Critics claimed the new tax law was a charter for criminals to hide their money.
- The opposition leader described the deregulation as a 'cowboy's charter' that would lead to lower safety standards across the industry.

Teaching tip: This is a common rhetorical device in British political journalism, often phrased as 'a charter for [bad group/activity]'.

### 4. to hire a vehicle

verb · CEFR B2

to pay to use a private plane, boat, or bus for a trip.

For teachers: to lease or hire a vehicle, especially a ship or aircraft, for a specific purpose or journey.

- They decided to charter a small boat to explore the islands.
- The relief agency had to charter several cargo planes to deliver emergency supplies to the remote mountain region.

### 5. hired or private

adjective · CEFR B1

describes a plane or bus that is hired for a private group rather than a regular schedule.

For teachers: referring to a vehicle or service that is leased for a specific trip rather than operating on a fixed public schedule.

- We took a charter flight because it was cheaper than the regular airline.
- The airport has a separate terminal specifically for charter traffic and private executive jets.

## Examples

- The city received its official charter in 1920.
- The university's royal charter outlines the specific powers granted to the board of governors regarding academic freedom.
- The United Nations Charter serves as the foundational treaty of the organization, establishing the rights and obligations of member states and the procedures for maintaining international peace.

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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.