Word
supercharger
Phoneticssu·per·charg·er
US/ˈsupəɹˌtʃɑɹdʒəɹ/
UK/sˈuːpətʃˌɑːdʒɐ/
Countable noun
Definition
n. a device that forces more air into an engine to make it more powerful and faster. You usually find these in high-performance cars or airplanes.
n. an air compressor that increases the pressure or density of air supplied to an internal combustion engine. This provides more oxygen for combustion, thereby increasing the engine's power output.
Examples
“The mechanic installed a supercharger to give the car more speed.”
“Adding a supercharger allowed the vintage sports car to compete with modern vehicles on the track.”
“Unlike a turbocharger, which is driven by exhaust gases, a supercharger is mechanically powered by the engine's crankshaft, providing an immediate increase in horsepower without the delay of lag.”
Examples
simple
“The mechanic installed a supercharger to give the car more speed.”
contextual
“Adding a supercharger allowed the vintage sports car to compete with modern vehicles on the track.”
complex
“Unlike a turbocharger, which is driven by exhaust gases, a supercharger is mechanically powered by the engine's crankshaft, providing an immediate increase in horsepower without the delay of lag.”
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “supercharger” in context.
Verb
01. engage supercharger
“The driver can manually engage the supercharger for extra speed.”
verb + noun
02. fit supercharger
“The technician will fit a new supercharger to the racing engine.”
verb + noun
03. install supercharger
“He decided to install a supercharger to boost the car's horsepower.”
verb + noun
04. supercharger boosts
“The supercharger boosts engine power by compressing the air.”
noun + verb
05. supercharger fails
“If the supercharger fails, the engine will lose significant power.”
noun + verb
Adjective
06. centrifugal supercharger
“A centrifugal supercharger is most effective at high engine speeds.”
adj + noun
07. electric supercharger
“Modern cars often utilize an electric supercharger to reduce lag.”
adj + noun
08. mechanical supercharger
“The engine uses a mechanical supercharger to increase air intake.”
adj + noun
Noun
09. supercharger kit
“The company sells a complete supercharger kit for DIY enthusiasts.”
noun + noun
10. bolt-on supercharger system
“They offer a bolt-on supercharger system for most V8 engines.”
11. driven by the crankshaft
“Unlike a turbo, a supercharger is driven by the crankshaft via a belt.”
12. increase the power output
“The main goal of the supercharger is to increase the power output.”
Usage
Commonly used in automotive and aerospace engineering contexts.
Real-World Examples
“Tesla has announced that all V4 Supercharger stations in North America are now capable of delivering charging speeds of up to 325kW, bringing the network more in line with high-powered chargers from the likes of BP, ChargePoint and Electrify America.” “Despite this, Tesla says that it is already rolling out the latest generation V4 Supercharger stalls with accompanying cabinets that it claims are capable of delivering a whopping 500kW, despite there not being a single EV publicly on sale today that can draw that sort of power.” “The Tesla Supercharger might sound like a performance upgrade for one of its range of increasingly popular EVs, but it’s actually the name given to the brand’s public charging devices.” “There’s even a Supercharger station in Monterey, which, with 315 miles of range, I was able to reach, without stopping, to charge along the way.” Etymology
The term appears in the early 20th century, formed as a compound of the prefix super- and the noun charger. It reflects the mechanical requirement of the era to supply an internal combustion engine with air at a pressure greater than that of the surrounding atmosphere.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Synonyms
Word family
VERB
NOUN
Related words
Domain
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C2 ProficiencyIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.8.5–9.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 6.0114–120
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- C2 · Proficiency
- Updated
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