Filler word
Definition
A sound, word, or phrase — like "um," "uh," "like," or "basically" — that fills a pause in speech without adding meaning.
Filler words are universal in human speech. They signal that the speaker is still thinking, holding their place in a conversation, or transitioning between ideas. In casual conversation they smooth speech; in high-stakes presentations they can feel unprepared.
Linguists distinguish two types: filled pauses (sounds like "um" and "uh") and discourse markers (real words used as filler, like "like" and "basically"). Both categories are reduced through deliberate practice — the goal isn't to eliminate them but to keep them from drowning out your real ideas.
Sources
- Filler words across languages — Clark & Fox Tree, Cognition (2002) — Cognition Journal
- Toastmasters International — How to eliminate filler words — Toastmasters International
Related terms
Discourse marker
A word or phrase used to manage the flow of speech — like "so," "well," "you know," or "I mean" — without contributing core meaning.
Speech disfluency
Any interruption in the flow of spoken language — including filler words, false starts, repetitions, and self-corrections.
Pause
A deliberate silence in speech. Used well, the most powerful tool a speaker has.
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