What it means
A loaded question is a trap-question dressed up as normal chat. It sneaks in an assumption so if you answer it straight, you end up accepting something you never agreed to in the first place. People use it in rows, interviews, breakups, politics, anywhere someone's fishing for a gotcha. Best play is to call out the premise and not walk into the word-snare.
Usage examples
"Babe, which of my mates do you fancy most? I nearly spat my tea. That’s a loaded question, I’m not getting aired over this tonight."
"Babe of mine, which of my best mates from the rugby club of Wandsworth do you fancy the most for a Saturday night out? I nearly spat my tea straight back into the cup at the kitchen table of the flat in Clapham Junction, that is a loaded question of legendary proportions, I am not getting aired by my own girlfriend over the dinner of Tuesday evening tonight."
"The radio presenter on Talksport on Sunday morning of the FA Cup final asked the new Liverpool manager the loaded question about loyalty to the squad of the previous season, the manager paused for a clean three seconds before answering with diplomatic blandness to the studio in Wapping, and the press pack covered the moment on the Monday back pages of every tabloid."
"Mate asked me, so when did you start ghosting everyone on purpose? Nah, that's a loaded question. You're sneaking guilt in through the side door."
"My mum hit me with why are you always so defensive, and I was like hold on, that's a loaded question. You've already decided I'm the villain here."
Where it comes from
The phrase comes from the older meaning of loaded as charged up, weighted, or packed with something extra. By the 1800s, lawyers and journalists were already using loaded question for a question stuffed with a hidden assumption, the kind that could box you in if you answered it too neatly.
Editors of this term
Everyday Giggle Gatherer Official watcher of this expression
Tell me, what have you got for me?