What does rechargeable mean?
Rechargeable is an adjective meaning that a battery, device, or other object can be given energy again after it has been used. The term most often describes batteries and the products that contain them: unlike a disposable product, a rechargeable one can be connected to a charger repeatedly and reused. The word can also be understood figuratively when something is designed to be replenished or restored, though this usage is less common. In everyday language, "rechargeable" often has a practical, environmentally conscious tone because it suggests reducing the number of replacements needed. It is normally hyphenated before a noun, as in "rechargeable battery," although the unhyphenated form is common after the word it modifies. Rechargeable is therefore useful when describing a product's capacity for repeated use rather than merely its function during a single use.
adjectiveCapable of being charged again with electrical energy so that it can continue to operate. The term is most commonly used for batteries and devices containing rechargeable batteries.
- Capable of being recharged to restore its supply of electrical energy.
"She bought a rechargeable battery for her camera before the trip."
"The rechargeable flashlight stayed lit throughout the night."
"Electric vehicles use rechargeable battery packs that can be replenished when the vehicle is plugged in."
A rechargeable battery creates no new energy during charging; it reverses the chemical process so the same stored energy can be used again.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does rechargeable come from?
Rechargeable was formed in English by combining the prefix re-, meaning "again," with charge and the suffix -able, meaning "capable of being." Charge entered Middle English through Old French chargier and Late Latin caricare, ultimately associated with Latin carrus, meaning a cart or carrier. Related English formations include recharge, discharge, and surcharge, while caricature also comes through the Latin root associated with loading or charging.
Related word forms
How rechargeable is actually used
This is a neutral, widely used technical and consumer term. It is generally hyphenated before a noun, as in "rechargeable battery," but is often unhyphenated after the noun it modifies.
Easily confused with rechargeable
A rechargeable item can be given energy again, whereas a chargeable item may simply be capable of being charged or may be liable to a charge.