# Charters

/ˈtʃɑɹtɝz/ (US) · /tʃˈɑːtəz/ (UK) · CEFR C1 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/charters
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Definition

official documents that describe the rights, goals, or rules of an organization or group.

For teachers: formal documents issued by a government or authority that grant specific rights, liberties, or powers to a person, group, or institution.

## Examples

- The city council reviewed the new school charters.
- Many international organizations operate under specific charters that define their legal powers and responsibilities toward member states.
- The medieval period saw the granting of numerous royal charters, which provided towns with the legal autonomy necessary to establish independent markets and local governance.

## Usage notes

- Often used in the plural when referring to the foundational documents of multiple entities or a collection of rights.

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