cargo

noun

car·​go ˈkär-(ˌ)gō 

plural cargoes or cargos

: the goods or merchandise conveyed in a ship, airplane, or vehicle : freight

Dock workers were unloading the ship's cargo.

Synonyms

• burden
• draft
• freight
• haul
• lading
• load
• loading
• payload
• weight

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

They are then exported out of Haiti to Miami, where the cargo is again quickly loaded onto aircraft bound for China, where they are then raised for food. —Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 23 Jan. 2025

The Suez Canal, for example, is crucial for energy and cargo shipments moving between Asia and Europe. —Steve Banker, Forbes, 23 Jan. 2025

Cat mistakenly left on a plane This cat named Mittens became an accidental jet setter when her cage was overlooked multiple times in a plane cargo hold! —Alexandra Banner, CNN, 22 Jan. 2025

Pets in the cargo hold may be exposed to extreme temperatures, especially during boarding, deplaning, or delays on the tarmac. —Raul A. Reyes, Newsweek, 22 Jan. 2025

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

Phrases Containing cargo

• cargo cult
• cargo pants
• cargo pocket

Kids Definition

cargo

noun

car·​go ˈkär-ˌgō 

plural cargoes or cargos

: the goods transported in a ship, airplane, or vehicle : freight