placeholder

American  

[pleys-hohl-der] / ˈpleɪsˌhoʊl dər /

noun

1. something that marks or temporarily fills a place (often used attributively): We’re using placeholder art in this mock-up of the ad layout.

   I couldn’t find my bookmark, so I put a coaster in my book as a placeholder.

   We’re using placeholder art in this mock-up of the ad layout.

2. Mathematics, Logic. a symbol in an expression that may be replaced by the name of any element of the set.

3. a person who holds a government office, especially one appointed to the position in return for political support or favors.

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Etymology

Origin of placeholder

First recorded in 1550–60; place + holder

Example Sentences

Angelo Giuseppe Roncalli, elected pope in October 1958 as an elderly placeholder, had answers.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 4, 2025

He accidentally combined the original name of Washington with the placeholder name that they held for several years before selecting Commanders.

From Salon • Jul. 20, 2025

For the next three weeks, Mr González was referred to by his own coalition members as a "placeholder", who was widely expected to be replaced by a candidate with more name recognition.

From BBC • Jul. 24, 2024

It could become a glamorous placeholder: I like you enough to consider marrying you and I don’t want you going anywhere while I continue to think about it.

From Los Angeles Times • May 17, 2024

In any case, a symbol for zero—the placeholder in the base-10 numbering system—was certainly in use by the ninth century.

From "Zero: The Biography of a Dangerous Idea" by Charles Seife