Definition, Meaning & Synonyms

placeholder

noun

/ˈpleɪsˌhoʊldər/

Definition

A placeholder is a symbol, word, or phrase that temporarily stands in for something else that is not yet specified or known.

Examples

In the document, the author’s name was marked as a placeholder until it is finalized.
The form included a placeholder for the date of submission.
During the presentation, the slides used generic graphics as placeholders until the final images were ready.

Meaning

Placeholders are often used in various contexts, such as in design, writing, or software development, to indicate where content will eventually be added.