empty word

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.

First recorded in 1890–95

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

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

He 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.

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.

Browse