WordValepayload
the actual data carried within a transmission
In more detail
1. (noun) the cargo or goods carried by a vehicle such as an airplane, ship, or truck, not including the weight of the vehicle itself
2. (noun) the amount of explosive material in a bomb or missile
3. (noun) the data or information being transmitted in a message or network communication
Examples
- 1. The aircraft can carry a payload of 50 tons of cargo.
- 2. The missile was equipped with a nuclear payload.
- 3. The network packet contained a payload of encrypted data.
How to use payload
Payload is used in three main technical or specialized contexts: transportation (the actual goods being carried, distinct from the vehicle's own weight), weapons/military (the explosive charge), and computing (the actual information or code being sent, distinct from overhead or headers). It is neutral to technical in register and emphasizes the functional content or purpose of what is being conveyed, rather than the vessel or medium.
Common phrases
- payload capacity
- maximum payload
- deliver payload
- payload weight
- heavy payload
- useful payload
Synonyms
cargo · freight · load · consignment · data
Word family
payloads (plural)
A common mistake
Learners sometimes confuse payload with the total weight or capacity of a vehicle; payload refers only to the cargo or data itself, not the vehicle's structure or infrastructure.
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