payload

[pey-lohd]

noun

1. the part of a cargo producing revenue or income, usually expressed in weight.

2. the number of paying passengers, as on an airplane.

3. Aerospace, Military.

   1. the bomb load, warhead, cargo, or passengers of an aircraft, a rocket, missile, etc., for delivery at a target or destination.

   2. the total complement of equipment carried by a spacecraft for the performance of a particular mission in space.

   3. the explosive energy of the warhead of a missile or of the bomb load of an aircraft.

      a payload of 50 megatons.

payload

/ ˈpeɪˌləʊd /

noun

1. that part of a cargo earning revenue

2. 1. the passengers, cargo, or bombs carried by an aircraft

   2. the equipment carried by a rocket, satellite, or spacecraft

3. the explosive power of a warhead, bomb, etc, carried by a missile or aircraft

   a missile carrying a 50-megaton payload

Word History and Origins

Origin of payload¹

First recorded in 1925–30; pay ¹ + load

Example Sentences

"They've got payloads on board that can see our satellites and are trying to collect information from them."

From BBC

SpaceX primarily provides launch services to commercial and military satellite customers with its workhorse Falcon 9 rocket, which has a payload of up to 23 metric tons.

From Los Angeles Times

Artemis III would keep astronauts on the surface for more than a week and deliver payloads to help begin the foundation of a base.

From Los Angeles Times

What if Putin were to order a strike on Kyiv with an Oreshnik, this time armed with a full payload of high explosive?

From BBC

General Miller says Russia has "demonstrated the capability to potentially put a nuclear payload" in space.

From BBC