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.
Unlike conventional cargo planes, Aviern’s aircraft are being designed without cockpits, passenger seats, or onboard crew systems. — Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 30 Oct. 2026 The bucket appeared to drop almost vertically and struck the ground; the cargo hook was then released, dropping the 200-foot cable that held the bucket, according to documents. — Alex Wigglesworth, Los Angeles Times, 30 Oct. 2026 The first came in 2006, with a $278 million award to develop a cargo delivery spacecraft for the International Space Station. — Eric Berger, ArsTechnica, 29 Oct. 2026 The mobile crane can switch between bulk grabs, breakbulk lifting gear and container spreaders, allowing the port to handle more steel, bulk materials, construction materials and project cargo as well as future container traffic. — Doug Ross, Chicago Tribune, 29 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 1 Nov. 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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