empty word
(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.
Origin of empty word
1- Compare full word, function word.
Words Nearby empty word
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
How to use empty word in a sentence
You have stolen my dreams and my childhood with your empty words.
These self-described trolls tackle climate disinformation on social media with wit and memes | Taylor Telford | July 30, 2021 | Washington PostThe 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.
How Far Has America Actually Come Since the Promises of the George Floyd Protests? | Jhumpa Bhattacharya and Anne Price | July 20, 2021 | TimeSoon he saw that the chief's word was no empty word; an' yet would not go away from his own place.
The Divine Adventure etc. (Works vol. 4) | Fiona MacleodFrom this habit of the interpreters, the lectures degenerated into an empty word jingle.
History of the Jews, Vol. II (of 6) | Heinrich GraetzHe hoped once to see such a thing realized; and the Petition, Thy Kingdom come, no longer an empty word.
It was, in truth, but an empty word; for my feelings towards the Invisible were almost totally extinguished.
Wilhelm Meister's Apprenticeship and Travels, Vol. I (of 2) | Johann Wolfgang von GoetheThe ancient so-called unity of Germany was not only an empty word, but the very title Emperor of Germany had no foundation in law.
Browse