empty word

noun

1. (especially in Chinese grammar) a word or morpheme that has no lexical meaning and that functions as a grammatical link or marker, rather than as a contentive.

Word History and Origins

Origin of empty word¹

First recorded in 1890–95

Example Sentences

You have stolen my dreams and my childhood with your empty words.

From Washington Post

The American people deserve real action to end racial injustice in America, so policy makers and leaders now need to step up and move beyond empty words.

From Time

Soon he saw that the chief's word was no empty word; an' yet would not go away from his own place.

From Project Gutenberg

From this habit of the interpreters, the lectures degenerated into an empty word jingle.

From Project Gutenberg

He hoped once to see such a thing realized; and the Petition, Thy Kingdom come, no longer an empty word.

From Project Gutenberg

It was, in truth, but an empty word; for my feelings towards the Invisible were almost totally extinguished.

From Project Gutenberg

The ancient so-called unity of Germany was not only an empty word, but the very title Emperor of Germany had no foundation in law.

From Project Gutenberg