What does “blather” mean?
Blather means to talk on and on without saying much of value — empty, rambling talk. It works as a verb (“he blathered on”) and as a noun (“an hour of blather”).
/ˈblæð.ɚ/ verb · noun · informal
Meaning and part of speech.
Blather is an informal word for talk that goes on too long without getting anywhere. It often carries criticism: the speaker has plenty to say, but little substance.
To talk at length in a rambling or foolish way. “He blathered on about nothing.”
Long-winded or empty talk. “That’s enough blather.”
How to pronounce it.
US: /ˈblæð.ɚ/ · UK: /ˈblæð.ə/. Say BLATH-er: two syllables, with the stress on the first. The “th” is voiced, as in “weather” or “brother.”
Blather in a sentence.
- “He blathered on about his fantasy football team until everyone found an excuse to leave.”
- “Skip the blather and tell me what happened.”
- “The comments section was pages of blather with no useful information.”
- “She blathered about the weather for ten minutes before getting to the point.”
Words in the same neighbourhood.
Depending on context, synonyms include ramble, prattle, babble, chatter, jabber, drivel, natter, waffle and witter. “Waffle” and “witter” are especially familiar in British English.
Blather, blabber, babble: what changes?
Blather
Rambling, empty talk. The focus is on saying a lot without saying much.
“He blathered on about nothing.”Blabber
Talking too much or indiscreetly. It can suggest letting a secret slip.
“Don’t blabber about the surprise party.”Babble
Continuous, excited, or unclear sounds. It can describe babies or running water too.
“The toddlers babbled happily.”What does “blather on” mean?
To keep talking in a rambling way, often after listeners have lost interest. “On” emphasises that the talking continues: “He blathered on for ages.”
Is blather a real word?
Yes. It is a standard English word, informal in tone, used as both a verb and an uncountable noun.
Is it negative?
It usually is mildly critical. Calling something “blather” suggests the talk feels long-winded, foolish, or empty. Tone and context decide whether it sounds playful or dismissive.
A strange clue.
A familiar answer.
On this site, we use the word the fun way: a party game where you describe a secret answer using a small set of word tiles, while your friends try to guess it. Our game runs in your browser for 2–6 players, with no download or account required.
The official title Blather ’Round belongs to the game in The Jackbox Party Pack 7. Here, Blather has its own browser setup, rounds, scoring, and highlights.