filler word

filler word (plural filler words)

1. A word used to fill space in conversation, especially when one is thinking or is uncertain.
   • 2021, Amy Jacobson, chapter 8, in Emotional Intelligence‎, 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!‎, 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:

     i love how your filler word isnt “like” or “um” its just “meow”

   • 2022 September 15, Matt Ellis, Grammarly Blog‎:

     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.

• filled pause