charlie

1 of 3

noun (1)

char·​lie ˈchär-lē How to pronounce charlie (audio)
variants or less commonly charley, often Charlie
Synonyms of charlienext
British
: fool

Charlie

2 of 3

communications code word

Char·​lie ˈchär-lē How to pronounce Charlie (audio)
—used as a code word for the letter c

Charlie

3 of 3

noun (2)

—used as a collective name for the Vietcong during the war in Vietnam

Synonyms of charlie

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Noun (1)

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Examples of charlie in a Sentence

Noun (1) he's a nice enough bloke, but a real charlie when choosing his girlfriends

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

from the name Charlie

Communications code word

from the name Charlie

Noun (2)

short for Victor Charlie, from the communications code words for VC (Vietcong)

First Known Use

Noun (1)

circa 1946, in the meaning defined above

Communications Code Word

1914, in the meaning defined above

Noun (2)

1965, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of charlie was in 1914

Rhymes for charlie

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Browse Nearby Words

Charlie
charlie
Charlie McCarthy
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Cite this Entry

“Charlie.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.grautoblog.com/dictionary/charlie. Accessed 25 Apr. 2026.

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