sideload

S1I1D2E1L1O1A1D2

verb

To transfer data between two local devices, rather than to or from a remote device.

“I'm going to sideload my computer's address book onto my mobile phone.”

Scrabble 10
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Meanings

verbsideload (third-person singular simple present sideloads, present participle sideloading, simple past and past participle sideloaded)

present singular third person sideloads · participle present sideloading · participle past sideloaded · past sideloaded

  1. transitivecomputingTo transfer data between two local devices, rather than to or from a remote device.

    I'm going to sideload my computer's address book onto my mobile phone.

    1 more example

    When you sideload content onto your nook, you'll find the items in My Documents.

    2010, Jim Cheshire, Using Nook
  2. transitivecomputingTo install an app on a mobile device by using any app store that doesn't come preinstalled like Google Play or Apple App Store. Or installing an app from an installation package. (.apk/.ipa)

    Developer: I'm not paying 25$ to Google to put my free app on Google Play. User: I'm fine sideloading it from F-Droid. Thank you for the free app!

Origin

From side + load, modelled on upload and download.

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Chinese Mandarin 側載 /侧载
  • 側載 /侧载install an app

Rhymes & wordplay

Anagrams

dialdosealdoside
Cite this entry
APA

sideload. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/sideload

MLA

“sideload.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/sideload. Accessed November 2, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “sideload,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/sideload.

Source: sideload on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.