load factor

noun

: the percentage of available seats paid for and occupied in an aircraft

Examples of load factor in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Walsh said yield growth throughout the year, as well as higher load factors, are helping to recoup the higher fuel costs. — Glenn Taylor, Footwear News, 29 June 2026 The vehicle’s electric drive system can be monitored remotely and includes battery status and motor load factor. — Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 23 Feb. 2026 Avelo’s load factor, or seat occupancy, also increased from 2024, according to the airline. — Kenneth R. Gosselin, Hartford Courant, 8 Jan. 2026 Flying a larger aircraft into markets with limited demand results in low passenger load factors, which translates into losses. — Marisa Garcia, Forbes.com, 13 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for load factor

Word History

First Known Use

1943, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of load factor was in 1943

Rhymes for load factor

See All Rhymes for load factor

Browse Nearby Words

loaderman
load factor
loading
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Load factor.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/load%20factor. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Commonly Misspelled Words

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List

One-Word Oxymorons: Bittersweet, Spendthrift, and More

Ten Words Ending with a Silent ‘T’

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
hangman letters and game
Hangman Lightning Round Figure out which word fits in the blanks.
See All