charter

/ˈtʃɑrdər/

/ˈtʃɑtə/

Other forms: chartered; charters; chartering

What do rock gods do when they travel? They charter their own plane, of course. Charter means you rent or lease a particular service or object. Anyone can charter something, though lesser mortals tend to limit themselves to buses.

Charter comes from the Latin charta, meaning "paper, card or map." As a noun, charter refers to a written document outlining — or mapping — the rights and obligations of a company or organization, or even, in older days, a town or entire colony. New York City was given a charter, for example, by the British monarch in the 17th century, guaranteeing it certain rights in exchange for goods and services. Today corporations still have charters governing their behavior.

Definitions of charter

1. noun

   a document incorporating an institution and specifying its rights; includes the articles of incorporation and the certificate of incorporation
   types:

   bank charter

   a charter authorizing the operation of a bank

   royal charter

   a charter granted by the sovereign (especially in Great Britain)

   type of:

   document, papers, written document

   writing that provides information (especially information of an official nature)
2. verb

   grant a charter to
   type of:

   certify, licence, license

   authorize officially
3. verb

   engage for service under a term of contract
   synonyms: engage, hire, lease, rent, take

   type of:

   acquire, get

   come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
4. verb

   hold under a lease or rental agreement; of goods and services
   synonyms: hire, lease, rent

   type of:

   contract, undertake

   enter into a contractual arrangement
5. noun

   a contract to hire or lease transportation
   type of:

   contract

   a binding agreement between two or more persons that is enforceable by law