Definition of: charter

(chär′tər) noun
1. An act of incorporation of a municipality, company, institution, or the like.
2. A writing permitting the establishment of a branch or chapter of a society.
3. A document granting special rights or privileges.
4. A lease, as of a vessel, or the contract by which it is leased: also char′ter·par′ty.
5. Written evidence of agreement or contract, as a deed.
—v.t.
1. To hire by charter.
2. To hire by contract, as a train or car.
3. To establish by charter; give a charter to, as a bank, railroad, colony, etc. [<OF chartre <L chartula, dim. of charta paper]
—char′ter·er noun