empty word

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noun

(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.

QUIZ

THINGAMABOB OR THINGUMMY: CAN YOU DISTINGUISH BETWEEN THE US AND UK TERMS IN THIS QUIZ?

Do you know the difference between everyday US and UK terminology? Test yourself with this quiz on words that differ across the Atlantic.

Question 1 of 7

In the UK, COTTON CANDY is more commonly known as…

candystring

candyfloss

candypuff

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Compare full word, function word.

Origin of empty word

First recorded in 1890–95

Words nearby empty word

empty nester, empty-nest syndrome, Empty Quarter, empty set, empty suit, empty word, empurple, empyema, empyreal, empyrean, empyreuma

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 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.
How Far Has America Actually Come Since the Promises of the George Floyd Protests?|Jhumpa Bhattacharya and Anne Price|July 20, 2021|Time
Soon 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 Macleod
From this habit of the interpreters, the lectures degenerated into an empty word jingle.
History of the Jews, Vol. II (of 6)|Heinrich Graetz

He hoped once to see such a thing realized; and the Petition, Thy Kingdom come, no longer an empty word.
The Great Events by Famous Historians, Vol. 1-20|Various
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 Goethe
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.
The Catholic World; Vol. IV.; October, 1866, to March, 1867.|E. Rameur