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

But they can only carry a small payload and most get detected and intercepted.

From BBC

The core stage is supplemented with a second, or upper, stage that will place the payloads in their precise orbits high above the Earth.

From BBC

It also handles commercial payloads and launches the company’s Dragon capsules, which carry cargo and astronauts to the International Space Station.

From Los Angeles Times

It permits up to 30 launches a year that will be used to take satellites and other payload into space.

From BBC

It permits up to 30 launches a year which that will be used to take satellites and other payload into space.

From BBC