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charge

charge

6.0
An official accusation of a crime
  • noun
  • /tʃɑrdʒ/
  • Formal
translation icon : acusación
  • After reviewing the evidence, the jury found enough to support the charge of theft against him.
  • criminal charges
  • face charges
  • bring charges

So she had to plead guilty to charges that were false.

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Examples

  • Mikey Tavarez was found innocent of those charges.

  • Prosecutor, please stand and read the charge against this man.

  • The figure demonstrates a steady rise in the number of new charges for both groups over time.

    Academic text (2017)
  • In 2013, the Justice Department ultimately dropped charges against Blackwater for giving arms to Jordan.

  • A Jasper Hills man is now facing first degree murder charges.

  • When some kids in the community are arrested on drug-related charges, this image carries over into the school.

    Academic text (2012)
  • From his campaign headquarters this morning, Senator Iselin stepped up his charges against the leader of the group, attempting to block his nomination.

  • He denied your charge, and so did Merrick Garland.

  • The prosecutor announced the charge against the suspect during the court session.

  • In his opening statement, the lawyer detailed the charge of fraud brought against her client.

Synonyms

accusation
vscharge
394 3.1

A statement that someone did something wrong or illegal, even if it is not proven

is an official statement of blame used by authorities rather than any informal claim
complaint
vscharge
  • Formal
350 5.3

A formal statement given to a court to start a legal case against someone

is an official accusation issued by authorities rather than a case-starting report
indictment
vscharge
  • Formal
271 7.8

A formal charge of a crime or a strong statement that criticizes someone

is the general official accusation used beyond prosecutor filings
rap
vscharge
105 7.7

Blame given to someone for a wrong act, often unfair

is an official accusation used in formal or legal settings not casual talk
charge sheet
vscharge
  • UK
2 5.4

A written list of charges and arrests at a police station

is an official accusation that applies beyond police records or station paperwork
bill of indictment
vscharge
  • Formal
1 8.6

A written charge by a government lawyer saying someone committed a crime

is an official accusation not limited to a prosecutor's written document

Antonyms

dismissal
  • Formal
22 5.1

A judge's order that ends a case without a trial

exoneration
  • Formal
10 7.9

An official clearing of a person from blame after being accused

Idioms

You do not have to pay for it

1 7.8

Has control and confidence when leading others

Compounds

54 4.7

A formal claim in court that someone killed another person

7 3.9

An extra fee each person pays to enter a restaurant or club, not for food and drink

explosive charge
  • Specialized
6 4.2

An amount of material placed to blow up at one time

4 3.2

A card that lets you buy things and must be paid in full each month

depth charge
  • Specialized
3 8.1

A bomb that explodes underwater at a set depth to destroy submarines

An account at a store that lets you buy now and pay later

2 5.4

A written list of charges and arrests at a police station

electrostatic charge
  • Specialized
2 6.2

A buildup of electricity on the surface of an object that does not let it move

An extra amount added to a bill to pay for the staff who served you

2 9.0

A diplomat who acts as head of an embassy when the ambassador is away

electric charge
  • Specialized
2 3.9

A quality in objects that makes them pull together or push apart, called positive and negative

negative charge
  • Specialized
2 4.1

A state when an object has more electrons than protons and so attracts positive objects, for example a rubbed balloon

positive charge
  • Specialized
2 3.9

An electrical state when an object has fewer electrons than protons

charge plate
  • Archaic
1 8.4

A small metal or plastic plate that people use like an early credit card to pay for goods

dynamite charge
  • Specialized
1 6.1

An amount of dynamite set to explode and break rock or buildings

A fee you pay to enter a place or event

A small fee for packing and sending an order

Money paid for putting equipment or services in place and making them ready

ionic charge
  • Specialized
1 5.7

The electric charge an atom has after it gains or loses electrons

1 3.5

An amount of money residents pay regularly to cover shared building costs like cleaning and repairs

8.9

An explosive inside a bomb or shell that breaks it open

carrying charge
  • Specialized
6.9

A fee charged for keeping an unpaid balance on an account

carrying charge
  • Specialized
6.8

The cost of keeping goods or assets in storage over time

A way to buy now at a shop and pay later up to a set limit you can repay anytime

9.2

A soldier who stays on duty after hours to deal with problems and visitors

The cost for each item or unit used

charge unit
  • Specialized
5.6

A standard amount used to measure electric charge, like the coulomb

9.9

A machine that speeds up ions so they leave a hot gas called plasma after swapping electrons

5.1

The total electric charge in a closed system stays the same

depreciation charge
  • Specialized
6.7

An amount companies record each year as an expense to show equipment loses value

8.7

A device that throws explosive charges into the sea to attack submarines from a ship

A fee you pay for returning a rented car to a different place

A fee paid for a plane landing, take-off, parking, or use of passenger areas at an airport

A mass attack, especially by Japanese soldiers in World War II, where they rush the enemy while shouting 'banzai'

fixed charge
  • Specialized
3.7

A regular payment that does not change when business changes, like rent or insurance

7.0

A tax on products harmful to the environment to make people use them less

7.5

A payment plan that lets you keep owing money and pay over time

How Serious

indictment
  • Formal
271 7.8
charge
  • Formal
6.0
accusation
394 3.1
allegation
  • Literature
579 4.8

Surface Forms

charge singular
charges plural

Etymology

Charge originally meant 'to load', like putting a burden on someone, which is related to carry and cargo. That is why a charge is an official 'load' of blame or accusation against a person.