unloaded

Unloaded is an adjective meaning not carrying a load or not holding something. It can describe objects that are empty of contents, or vehicles or devices that are not carrying a cargo, passengers, or ammunition. The term is commonly used across various contexts to indicate an absence of load.

In firearms safety and handling, unloaded is used to indicate a firearm is not containing a round in the chamber or magazine. It is a standard safety status, but it still requires verification according to applicable laws and procedures.

In transportation and shipping, unloaded goods are those that have been removed from a vehicle. The term also appears in weight measurements, such as empty or unloaded weight, which refers to the vehicle's weight without cargo or fuel.

In computing, an unloaded program or module is not currently loaded into memory. Some systems distinguish between loaded and unloaded resources in memory management, startup processes, or lazy loading.

In everyday language, unloaded can describe emotional or metaphorical release, such as unloading a burden or unloading concerns, emphasizing the removal of load rather than a physical object. The term’s versatility allows it to describe physical, logistical, technical, and abstract states of absence of cargo, content, or obligation.