What does loaded mean?
Loaded describes something that carries a large amount of a substance, such as a truck loaded with cargo or a table loaded with food. It also has several figurative meanings: a question or issue may be loaded because it is biased or emotionally charged; an arrangement may be loaded because it is rigged; and a person may be described as loaded when they have considerable money or resources. The word can also describe a firearm containing ammunition or, informally, a person affected by drugs. These meanings share the basic idea of something having more weight, influence, significance, or intensity than is ordinary. Loaded is especially useful when describing language and situations whose effects extend beyond their literal content. It is frequent in journalism, politics, education, legal contexts, and everyday conversation, although its meanings can differ by context.
Carrying, containing, or filled with a large amount of something; strongly biased or emotionally charged; rigged or manipulated; or, informally, wealthy and resource-rich.
"The committee issued a loaded statement that seemed to blame every employee."
The precise meaning depends heavily on context, especially in phrases such as loaded with, loaded question, and politically loaded.
The past tense and past participle of load, meaning to place goods, materials, ammunition, or information into or onto a vehicle, device, or other container.
"They loaded the equipment onto the truck before sunset."
In this use, loaded is an inflected verb form rather than a separate lexical verb.
A loaded question can tilt the conversation before a single answer is given.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of loaded
Loaded is the past participle and adjectival form of load. Load descends from Old English lādan, meaning to load or freight, and is related to forms such as laden and lading. The development from the concrete idea of carrying goods to figurative meanings such as being filled, biased, or charged with significance occurred over the word's long history in English.
Related word forms
How loaded is actually used
The adjective is highly versatile. Its figurative uses, especially for bias, emotional charge, and rigged outcomes, are common in formal and informal English. The sense meaning wealthy or powerful is informal and often carries the implication of unusual privilege or abundance. The drug-related sense is informal and can sound disapproving.
Easily confused with loaded
Laden usually emphasizes carrying goods or being filled with something, whereas loaded has a broader range of meanings, including being biased or rigged.