Rechargeable describes a battery or device that can be used again and again by restoring its power with electricity. When your tablet's battery runs low, you plug it into an outlet, and electrical current flows back into the battery, refilling it with energy. This is much more convenient (and better for the environment) than throwing away dead batteries and buying new ones every time.

Before rechargeable batteries became common, most battery-powered devices used disposable batteries that had to be tossed out once they died. A family might go through dozens of AA batteries each year for flashlights, toys, and remote controls. Modern rechargeable batteries, especially the lithium-ion batteries in phones and laptops, can be recharged hundreds or even thousands of times before wearing out.

The word comes from combining re- (meaning “again”) with charge (meaning to fill with electrical energy). You can recharge a phone, recharge a power drill, or recharge an electric car battery. Some devices charge wirelessly by placing them on a special pad, while others need to be plugged in with a cable. Either way, the idea is the same: the battery gets refilled with power so you can keep using the device.