filler word
English
[edit]Noun
[edit]| Examples |
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filler word (plural filler words)
- A word used to fill space in conversation, especially when one is thinking or is uncertain.
- 2021, Amy Jacobson, chapter 8, in Emotional Intelligence[1], page 92:
- One of the most frequent words we hear is the one we attach to nerves. This word is often described as a 'filler word'. For example, when we are asked to do something that makes us a little nervous […] all of a sudden, we notice we fill any pause or nervous point with our 'filler word'. For many people it is 'umm'; however, this differs with each person.
- 2020, Blake J. Neff, chapter 8, in Proclamation![2], page 129:
- Instead, the speaker tries to fill the silence with unintelligible guttural sounds or meaningless words. Such noises are called filler words or vocalized pauses.
- 2023 December 20, @hazumiaileen, Twitter[3]:
- i love how your filler word isnt “like” or “um” its just “meow”
- 2022 September 15, Matt Ellis, Grammarly Blog[4]:
- Also known as discourse markers, filler words are what we use when we don’t know what else to say. More often than not, they’re unintentional; we use them subconsciously to fill the space or time while we prepare our main message.