- (Informal slang) Very rich; having a lot of money.
Explanation
Origin
- Metaphorical, early 20th century.
- Suggests being filled ('loaded') with money, similar to how a truck is loaded with cargo or a gun with ammunition – implying great abundance.
Synonyms & Related Expressions
Alternatives
Slang/Informal:
- Got bank
- Got racks / Got stacks (Urban slang, from stacks of cash/bands)
- Minted (UK/Aus slang)
- Quids in (UK slang, meaning in profit or having money)
- Has money coming out of their ears (Exaggeration)
Vulgar/Emphatic:
- Rich as fuck / Rich as hell
- Got shitloads of money
- Got more money than God (Hyperbole)
Milder/Formal:
- Prosperous
- Of considerable means
- High-net-worth (Financial industry term)
- Financially independent (Implies wealth sufficient to not need work)
Situational Appropriateness
- Informal slang.
- Perfectly fine in casual conversation among friends or peers.
- Too informal for formal settings, reports, or serious financial discussions (use wealthy, affluent, high-net-worth instead).
Misunderstanding Warnings
- Loaded has several other common meanings: carrying a load, full (e.g., loaded fries), drunk or high, biased (e.g., loaded question), or having ammunition (a loaded gun).
- Context is absolutely crucial. If talking about people and money, it almost always means rich.
Examples
- They inherited a fortune from their grandfather; now they're absolutely loaded.
- You'd have to be loaded to afford a penthouse apartment in this city.
Dialogue
A: Did you see the photos from Alex's wedding? It looked incredibly lavish!
B: I know! Her family is loaded, apparently. They spared no expense.
A: Figures. You could tell from the venue alone it cost a fortune.
Social Media Examples
- Tweet: Just saw someone casually drop $10k on a watch. Some people are just loaded. 🤯 #RichLife #Luxury
- Comment on a celebrity home tour video: Damn, they are LOADED! That house is insane.
- Meme caption: Picture of someone looking poor, then picture of them with one slightly fancy item: How I feel after payday vs how I think I look (loaded)
Response Patterns
- Expressing surprise/envy: Wow, really? / Seriously? / Must be nice!
- Agreement: Yeah, they definitely seem loaded.
- Curiosity: How did they make their money?
Common Follow-up Questions/Actions
- Discussing the source or extent of the person's wealth.
- Commenting on their lifestyle (big house, fancy cars, expensive travel).
- Comparing their wealth to others.
Conversation Starter
- No.
- It's a description of someone's financial status, used within a conversation.
Intonation
- Often said with a sense of awe, amazement, envy, or sometimes disapproval (implying perhaps unearned or excessive wealth).
- Stress firmly on LOADED. He is LOADED.
Generation Differences
- Common and well-understood across most generations. Perhaps slightly less used by the very oldest generation compared to wealthy or well-off, but still very recognizable.
Regional Variations
- Widely used and understood in most major English-speaking regions (US, UK, Aus, Can, etc.).