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 moving between ideas. In casual conversation they smooth speech; in high-stakes presentations they can make a prepared speaker sound unprepared.
Linguists distinguish two types: filled pauses (sounds like "um" and "uh") and discourse markers (real words used as filler, like "like," "so" and "basically"). Both come down with deliberate practice. The goal isn't to eliminate them but to keep them from drowning out your real ideas.
Sources
- Clark & Fox Tree, "Using uh and um in spontaneous speaking," Cognition (2002), Cognition
- 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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