padding

[ pad-ing ]

noun

1. material, as cotton or straw, used to pad something.
2. something added unnecessarily or dishonestly, as verbiage to a speech or a false charge on an expense account.
3. the act of a person or thing that pads. pad.

padding

/ ˈpædɪŋ /

noun

1. any soft material used to pad clothes, furniture, etc
2. superfluous material put into a speech or written work to pad it out; waffle
3. inflated or false entries in a financial account, esp an expense account

Word History and Origins

Origin of padding¹

First recorded in 1820–30; pad ¹ + -ing ¹

Example Sentences

He was visibly frustrated, hitting the padding on the basket stanchion.

From Los Angeles Times

It’s easily forgotten now, with Ohtani stealing bags on an almost nightly basis and padding a total that’s reached gaudy heights, but there was a time early this season his stolen bases felt rare.

From Los Angeles Times

The helmets are custom-fitted, with representatives from those companies mapping the contours of a player’s head to create the perfect padding for comfort and protection.

From Los Angeles Times

Some of the plot is just unnecessary padding, like Daniel’s girlfriend troubles and slacker mentality, spiking in an odd scene where he hysterically bemoans his own uselessness.

From New York Times

The chairmen of two Senate committees overseeing health policy, concerned about companies “padding their own profits” at the expense of patients, are looking into the practices of a data analytics firm that works with big insurers to cut payments to medical providers.

From New York Times