Words / B2

CHAHT-uh/ˈtʃɑːtə/

A charter is an official document that sets out rights, powers, or aims: a royal charter, a patients’ charter. Constitution is close for a state; policy is everyday and weaker. Charter is also a verb meaning to hire a plane or boat (charter a flight), and a charter flight is a hired one. In speech, the official document of rights is the civic sense. Do not use charter for a classroom poster of “our hopes,” and keep the hire-a-plane sense separate.

Meaning

An official document that sets out rights or aims; also, to hire a plane or boat.

Examples

• “The school’s charter lists the students’ rights.”
• “The city still operates under a royal charter granted centuries ago.”
• “They chartered a coach when the train strike left the choir stranded, which is the hire sense, not the rights document.”

Good to know

Official document of rights/powers/aims. Everyday: official rights document. Also verb: hire a plane/boat. Contrast: a poster of hopes; constitution (state).

Near in meaning

constitution

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