charge
A charge is an official statement from the police saying that someone has broken the law.
Explanation at your level:
A charge is when the police say you did something bad. It is a very serious word. You hear it on the news. It means you have to go to court.
When someone is arrested, the police might give them a charge. This is a formal paper that says they broke the law. It is the start of a trial.
In the legal system, a charge is an official accusation. If you are 'charged' with a crime, the government believes you are guilty and wants a judge to decide. It is a common term in news headlines.
A charge acts as a formal notification of criminal wrongdoing. It is distinct from an arrest; while an arrest is the act of taking someone into custody, the charge is the specific legal label for the crime they are accused of committing.
The term charge carries significant weight in criminal justice. It signifies that the prosecution has reviewed the evidence and deemed it sufficient to proceed to trial. It is a procedural milestone that triggers the defendant's right to legal counsel and due process.
Etymologically, the charge represents the 'burden' of proof placed upon the state. It is a foundational concept in jurisprudence, representing the formal intersection of individual liberty and state power. Its usage is precise, often accompanied by specific modifiers like 'felony' or 'misdemeanor' to denote severity.
Wort in 30 Sekunden
- Charge is a formal legal accusation.
- It is the start of a court case.
- It does not mean guilty.
- It is a countable noun.
When we talk about a charge in a legal sense, we are talking about the moment the law officially points a finger. It is the bridge between being a 'suspect' and being a 'defendant.' Think of it as the police saying, 'We have enough evidence to bring you to court.'
It is important to remember that a charge is not a conviction. Being charged means the state is accusing you of a crime, but it is up to the court to decide if you are guilty or innocent. It is a serious, formal step that changes everything for the person involved.
The word charge has a fascinating journey through time. It comes from the Old French word charger, which meant 'to load' or 'to burden.' You can see the connection: a legal charge is a heavy burden or responsibility placed upon someone's shoulders.
By the 13th century, it entered Middle English. Originally, it was used to describe loading a ship or a wagon. Over time, the meaning shifted from a physical load to a metaphorical one—like a 'duty,' a 'task,' or, eventually, a 'legal accusation.' It is a great example of how words evolve from physical actions to abstract concepts.
You will most often hear this word in news reports or crime dramas. Common collocations include 'to face a charge' or 'to drop a charge.' If someone is 'facing charges,' it means they are currently dealing with the legal system.
The register is definitely formal. You wouldn't use this word at a dinner party unless you were discussing a specific legal case. In casual conversation, people might say 'accused of,' but 'charge' is the precise term used by lawyers and journalists.
1. In charge of: To be the person responsible for something. 'She is in charge of the department.'
2. Take charge: To assume control. 'He took charge of the situation.'
3. Free of charge: Without cost. 'The service is free of charge.'
4. Lead the charge: To be the first to start an effort. 'She led the charge for better recycling.'
5. Battery and charge: A common legal pairing for violent crimes. 'He faces a charge of assault and battery.'
As a noun, 'charge' is countable. You can have one charge or multiple charges. The pronunciation is /tʃɑːrdʒ/ in both British and American English, with the 'ch' sound being soft and the 'r' being slightly retroflex in American English.
It rhymes with large, barge, sarge, marge, and targe. The stress is always on the single syllable, making it a very punchy, direct word to say.
Fun Fact
It originally referred to loading a ship, which is why we still 'load' a battery today.
Pronunciation Guide
Long 'a' sound, soft 'ch' at start.
Crisp 'r' sound, soft 'ch' at start.
Common Errors
- Pronouncing the 'r' too hard
- Making the 'ch' sound like 'sh'
- Dropping the final 'j' sound
Rhymes With
Difficulty Rating
Common in news.
Useful for formal writing.
Used in serious discussion.
Frequent in media.
What to Learn Next
Prerequisites
Learn Next
Fortgeschritten
Grammar to Know
Passive Voice
The charge was read by the clerk.
Countable Nouns
He faces many charges.
Prepositional Phrases
A charge of theft.
Examples by Level
The police made a charge.
Police said he did a crime.
Noun usage.
He faces a charge.
He is in trouble.
Verb + Noun.
The charge is serious.
The crime is bad.
Subject + Verb.
They dropped the charge.
They stopped the case.
Past tense verb.
Read the charge.
Look at the paper.
Imperative.
Is there a charge?
Are you accusing him?
Question form.
The charge stands.
The accusation stays.
Present tense.
No charge today.
No crime today.
Negative.
The police filed a formal charge.
He was cleared of the charge.
The charge was read in court.
She denied the charge.
They face a new charge.
The charge is theft.
He avoided the charge.
The charge was dismissed.
The prosecutor brought a charge against him.
He is facing a charge of fraud.
The police dropped the charge due to lack of evidence.
She was arrested on a charge of burglary.
The jury heard the charge.
The charge carries a heavy penalty.
He pleaded not guilty to the charge.
The charge was later upgraded.
The defendant contested the charge in court.
The prosecution decided to drop the charge.
He was formally served with a charge.
The charge was based on new forensic evidence.
She was acquitted of the charge.
The charge of conspiracy is very complex.
He was held on a charge of assault.
The charge was amended by the judge.
The indictment contained a single charge of embezzlement.
The legal team sought to have the charge dismissed.
The charge of sedition was highly controversial.
He was indicted on a charge of racketeering.
The charge was substantiated by witness testimony.
The defense argued the charge was politically motivated.
The charge was dropped in exchange for a plea deal.
The severity of the charge shocked the public.
The grand jury returned a true bill on the charge.
The charge was predicated on circumstantial evidence.
He faced a multi-count charge of grand larceny.
The charge of high treason was rarely invoked.
The legal validity of the charge was challenged.
The charge was vacated after the appeal.
The prosecution pressed the charge with vigor.
The charge was the culmination of a year-long investigation.
Synonyme
Häufige Kollokationen
Idioms & Expressions
"in charge of"
responsible for
Who is in charge of this case?
neutral"take charge"
to lead
It is time to take charge.
neutral"free of charge"
no cost
The lawyer worked free of charge.
neutral"lead the charge"
start an effort
She led the charge for reform.
neutral"take charge of"
assume control
He took charge of the investigation.
neutral"at no charge"
free
They fixed it at no charge.
neutralEasily Confused
Both involve money/legal terms.
Fee is for payment; charge is an accusation.
I paid the fee, but I face a charge.
Both are legal.
A fine is a punishment; a charge is the accusation.
He paid the fine after the charge.
Both happen to suspects.
Arrest is the act of taking, charge is the accusation.
He was arrested and then given a charge.
Both mean accusation.
Indictment is a specific type of formal charge.
The indictment is a serious charge.
Sentence Patterns
The police brought a charge against [person].
The police brought a charge against him.
He faces a charge of [crime].
He faces a charge of theft.
The charge was dismissed by [judge].
The charge was dismissed by the judge.
She was cleared of the charge.
She was cleared of the charge.
The charge carries a penalty of [time].
The charge carries a penalty of five years.
Wortfamilie
Nouns
Verbs
Adjectives
Verwandt
How to Use It
8
Formality Scale
Häufige Fehler
Charge is a noun in this context; you 'bring a charge' or 'are charged'.
Charge can mean money, but in legal contexts, it is an accusation.
Be specific, e.g., 'a charge of theft'.
A charge is just the start of the legal process.
Legal cases often have multiple charges.
Tips
Context is King
Always pair 'charge' with 'legal' in your mind.
News Headlines
Read news headlines to see how it is used.
Courtroom Dramas
Watch shows like Law & Order.
Countable Noun
Remember it takes 'a' or 'the'.
Soft Ch
Don't make it a hard 'k' sound.
Accusation vs Charge
Charge is more formal.
Battery Connection
It's all about 'loading' energy or blame.
Flashcards
Use collocations on flashcards.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
Think of a 'charge' as a 'load' of legal trouble.
Visual Association
A courtroom gavel hitting a desk.
Word Web
Herausforderung
Write a news headline using the word charge.
Wortherkunft
Old French
Original meaning: To load or burden
Kultureller Kontext
Always treat as a serious, potentially life-altering event.
Commonly used in American and British crime dramas.
Practice in Real Life
Real-World Contexts
At the police station
- I want to see my lawyer
- What is the charge?
- I am innocent
In a courtroom
- The charge is read
- The judge dismissed the case
- Plea of not guilty
Reading the news
- Facing serious charges
- Dropped the charges
- New evidence found
Legal advice
- What are the charges?
- Can we fight this?
- Is there a defense?
Conversation Starters
"Have you ever watched a courtroom drama?"
"What do you think is the most serious criminal charge?"
"Do you know the difference between a charge and a conviction?"
"Why is it important to have a lawyer when facing a charge?"
"How does the legal system work in your country?"
Journal Prompts
Write about a fictional character who is wrongly accused of a crime.
Explain why the legal system needs formal charges.
Describe how a person might feel when they hear a charge against them.
Discuss the importance of the phrase 'innocent until proven guilty'.
Häufig gestellte Fragen
8 FragenNo, it is just an accusation.
Generally, no, due to double jeopardy laws.
The police or a prosecutor.
A court hearing or trial.
No, it can mean a fee or a battery charge.
Yes, if there is no evidence.
A very serious criminal charge.
You would be officially notified by the police.
Teste dich selbst
The police gave him a ___.
A charge is a legal accusation.
What does 'face a charge' mean?
It means you are accused of a crime.
A charge is the same as a conviction.
A charge is just an accusation; a conviction is a guilty verdict.
Word
Bedeutung
These are common collocations.
The charge was dropped.
Ergebnis: /5
Summary
A charge is the official start of a legal accusation, not a final judgment of guilt.
- Charge is a formal legal accusation.
- It is the start of a court case.
- It does not mean guilty.
- It is a countable noun.
Context is King
Always pair 'charge' with 'legal' in your mind.
News Headlines
Read news headlines to see how it is used.
Courtroom Dramas
Watch shows like Law & Order.
Countable Noun
Remember it takes 'a' or 'the'.
Beispiel
The police gave him a charge for driving too fast.
Related Content
Im Kontext lernen
Dieses Wort in anderen Sprachen
Verwandte Redewendungen
Mehr law Wörter
bail
A1Bail is a sum of money paid to a court so that a person who has been accused of a crime can stay out of jail until their trial starts. If the person shows up for their court date, the money is usually returned.
bankruptcy
A1Das ist, wenn eine Person oder Firma ihre Schulden nicht bezahlen kann. Ein Gericht hilft dann, die Schulden zu regeln.
burden of proof
A1Die Beweislast ist die Pflicht, zu zeigen, dass etwas wahr ist. Wer etwas behauptet, muss es beweisen können.
clause
A1Ein Paragraph in einem Vertrag oder Gesetz, der eine bestimmte Regel oder Bedingung erklärt, nennt man Klausel.
compensation
A1Entschädigung ist Geld, das man für einen Verlust oder eine Verletzung erhält, um den Schaden auszugleichen.
compliance
A1Compliance is the act of following a rule, law, or specific order. It is most often used to describe when a person or a company obeys legal requirements or safety standards.
confidentiality
A1Confidentiality means keeping information secret or private. It is a rule that says you cannot tell other people's secrets to anyone else.
conviction
A1Ein gerichtliches Urteil, das jemanden für schuldig erklärt, oder eine feste Überzeugung.
copyright
A1Das ist das Recht, das bestimmt, wer dein Werk (wie ein Buch oder Lied) kopieren, verkaufen oder benutzen darf. Nur du hast die Kontrolle.
crime
A1A crime is an action that is against the law and is punishable by the government. It refers to illegal activities like stealing or hurting someone.
