filler
UK: ˈfɪlə | US: ˈfɪlər
n. a substance or object used to fill a gap or cavity
n. material added to bulk out a product (e.g., food, plastic)
n. (informal) trivial content used to occupy space or time
The word "filler" derives from the verb "fill" (Old English fyllan, meaning "to make full") combined with the agentive suffix "-er," which denotes something or someone that performs an action. Originally, it referred to anything that fills a void, later expanding to industrial and colloquial contexts (e.g., food additives, meaningless dialogue). The morphemes preserve their functional clarity: "fill" as the core action and "-er" marking its instrumental role.
The dentist applied a temporary filler to the cavity.
Some processed foods contain soy-based fillers to reduce costs.
His speech was full of unnecessary fillers like "um" and "ah."
The pillow’s polyester filler provides soft support.
Avoid using filler words in formal writing to maintain clarity.