boatload

American  

[boht-lohd] / ˈboʊtˌloʊd /

noun

1. the cargo that a vessel carries or is capable of carrying.

---

boatload British  

/ ˈbəʊtˌləʊd /

noun

1. the amount of cargo or number of people held by a boat or ship

---

Etymology

Origin of boatload

First recorded in 1670–80; boat + load

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

boatload

“When they make a boatload of money and are very successful, so will most of our shareholders.”

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 11, 2026

For reimbursements, get ready to amass a boatload of documentation.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 9, 2026

And by a boatload, I mean a battleship-sized boat — sent to sink the rest of the NBA.

From Los Angeles Times ● May 8, 2026

But “Michael” is going to make a boatload of cash regardless.

From Salon ● Apr. 25, 2026

“Get me a small sweet cream with a boatload of jimmies. Chocolate.”

From "Shouting at the Rain" by Lynda Mullaly Hunt