# filler

/ˈfɪɫɝ/ (US) · /fˈɪlɐ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/filler
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. repair material

noun · CEFR B2

a substance used to fill cracks or holes in a surface, like a wall or wood.

For teachers: a semisolid substance applied to fill gaps, cracks, or pores in a structural surface before painting or finishing.

- He used some white filler to hide the small holes left by the picture hooks.
- Before applying the final coat of gloss, ensure that all imperfections in the woodwork are addressed with a high-quality wood filler.

### 2. speech sounds

noun · CEFR B2

a sound or word like 'um' or 'ah' that you use while thinking of what to say next.

For teachers: a sound, word, or phrase used in spoken discourse to signal a pause or hesitation without giving up the speaker's turn.

- Try to avoid using too many fillers like 'you know' during your presentation.
- The speaker's excessive use of vocal fillers made it difficult for the audience to follow the logical progression of his argument.

### 3. extra media content

noun · CEFR B2 · Informal

extra material in a TV show, book, or album that is only there to make it longer.

For teachers: content of lower quality or importance used to occupy a specific time slot or physical space in a media production.

- The first three songs are great, but the rest of the album is just filler.
- Critics argued that the mid-season episodes were merely filler designed to stretch the narrative arc to a full twelve-episode order.

### 4. cosmetic injection

noun · CEFR C1 · Technical

a substance injected under the skin to make it look smoother or younger.

For teachers: a dermal substance injected beneath the skin to restore volume, smooth wrinkles, or enhance facial contours.

- She decided to get lip fillers to give her face a different look.
- The clinician explained the risks associated with synthetic fillers compared to those made from hyaluronic acid.

### 5. bulking ingredient

noun · CEFR C1 · Technical

a cheap substance added to a product to make it heavier or thicker.

For teachers: a relatively inert ingredient added to a mixture to modify its physical properties or reduce the cost by increasing volume.

- Some cheap pet foods use cereal as a filler instead of real meat.
- The manufacturer added calcium carbonate as a filler to the plastic resin to improve rigidity while reducing production costs.

## Examples

- He used a lot of 'um' sounds as a filler during his speech.
- The contractor applied a wood filler to the cracks in the floor before sanding and staining the surface.
- While the lead single was a masterpiece, the rest of the album felt like filler, consisting of repetitive tracks that lacked the same creative depth.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.