filler
Meaning of filler: Filler most often refers to an inactive ingredient bulking a medication, but the term also describes an injectable substance used to add facial volume.
Definition of filler
A filler, in the context of medications and supplements, is an inactive substance added to a product to increase its size or make it easier to handle, since the amount of active ingredient alone is often too small to form a practical pill or capsule. A filler does not contribute to the product's intended therapeutic effect and is chosen mainly for physical properties such as bulk, stability, and how well it compresses into a tablet.
The word filler is also used in a different medical context to describe a dermal filler, a substance injected beneath the skin to add volume, smooth wrinkles, or reshape facial contours. Dermal fillers are commonly made from substances such as hyaluronic acid, a naturally occurring component of skin tissue, and their effects are generally temporary rather than permanent.
Because filler describes two distinct concepts, an inactive ingredient within a manufactured product and an injectable cosmetic substance, the surrounding context generally makes clear which meaning is intended in a given discussion.
Used in a sentence
The medication's inactive ingredients included a common filler used to standardize tablet size.
Good to know
Filler in a pill or capsule describes an inactive bulking ingredient, while filler injected into skin describes an entirely different, cosmetic substance, so the term's meaning depends heavily on context.