noise word

noun

A word that may be included in source code for clarity but does not change the meaning.

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Meanings

nounnoise word (plural noise words)

plural noise words

  1. computingA word that may be included in source code for clarity but does not change the meaning.

    For example, in the COBOL goto statement, written GO TO , the keyword GO is required, but TO is an optional noise word which carries no information and is used only to improve readability.

    1975, Terrence W. Pratt, Programming Languages: Design and Implementation, page 381
  2. computingA stop word, one ignored in search queries etc.
Cite this entry
APA

noise word. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/noise%20word

MLA

“noise word.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/noise%20word. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “noise word,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/noise%20word.

Source: noise word on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.