noun
- The third letter of the English alphabet, or the word used to represent it in radio communication and military contexts.
- A foolish or incompetent person.
- A man or boy; a fellow.
Usage: often capitalized; used in NATO phonetic alphabet
Usage: informal; chiefly British
Usage: informal; dated
Examples
- The word 'charlie' represents the letter C in the NATO phonetic alphabet.
- In radio communication, pilots spell out names using 'charlie' for the letter C.
- Don't be such a charlie—you should have known better than that.
- That old charlie down the street always waves at the neighbors.
- The instructor said, 'Charlie, as in the letter C, is the third letter of the alphabet.'