cargo

noun

car·​go ˈkär-(ˌ)gō How to pronounce cargo (audio)
plural cargoes or cargos
Synonyms of cargo
: the goods or merchandise conveyed in a ship, airplane, or vehicle : freight
Dock workers were unloading the ship's cargo.

Synonyms of cargo

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Examples of cargo in a Sentence

The ship was carrying a cargo of crude oil. we put all of our cargo on the pack animals and began our journey through the canyon
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
According to Hanwha Power, this arrangement improves space efficiency, maximizes cargo capacity, and optimizes overall vessel performance. — Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 23 Oct. 2026 The spacecraft will carry over 1,100 pounds (455 kilograms) of cargo to its landing site near the lunar south pole. — Chelsea Gohd, Space.com, 23 Oct. 2026 The Russian Defense Ministry said in a statement that its forces carried out drone strikes on logistics centers, port infrastructure and three cargo ships in the port of Reni in the Odesa region. — Arkansas Online, 21 Oct. 2026 Many participate in the miraculous art of flying and maintaining enormous airplanes, or picking up cargo to take across our greater multi-county region of millions. — Daniel Hernandez, Los Angeles Times, 21 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for cargo

Word History

Etymology

Spanish, load, charge, from cargar to load, from Late Latin carricare — more at charge entry 1

First Known Use

1657, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of cargo was in 1657

Phrases Containing cargo

Rhymes for cargo

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Browse Nearby Words

cargason
cargo
cargo cult
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Cite this Entry

“Cargo.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cargo. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

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Kids Definition

cargo

noun
car·​go ˈkär-ˌgō How to pronounce cargo (audio)
plural cargoes or cargos
: the goods transported in a ship, airplane, or vehicle : freight

More from Merriam-Webster on cargo

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about cargo

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