payload

American  

[pey-lohd] / ˈpeɪˌloʊd /

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.

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payload British  

/ 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

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Etymology

Origin of payload

First recorded in 1925–30; pay ¹ + load

Example Sentences

Anyway, Tansy had her a payload of pupils and could just mark me and Charlie absent.

From Literature

The space launch and technology provider said it had successfully launched its Alpha Flight 7 mission on Wednesday, delivering a demonstrator payload for defense company Lockheed Martin.

From Barron's

The two countries have refined everything from tactics to higher payloads and production inside Russia.

From The Wall Street Journal

Manned aircraft and naval vessels offer greater payload capacity, advanced sensors, and pilot adaptability compared with current drones.

From The Wall Street Journal

But a space launch system doesn’t include a re-entry vehicle with heat shielding that could protect a potential nuclear payload over an intercontinental distance.

From The Wall Street Journal