Standard Lemma guide

erm

adj · intj · name · noun · 6 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • Received-Pronunciation: /ɜːm/
  • US: /ɝm/
  • US: ûrm
  • US: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • rhymes with -ɜː(ɹ)m

1

adj

Meaning 1

Abbreviation of ezrin-radixin-moesin.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: abbreviation, alt-of, not-comparable

Topics: biochemistry, biology, chemistry, microbiology, natural-sciences, physical-sciences

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

intj

Meaning 2

Used in hesitant speech, or to express uncertainty.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: UK, humorous

Examples

  • She was going to, erm... the salon, I think.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: um, umm, em, eh, uh

Antonyms: none provided

3

intj

Meaning 3

Used to express embarrassment or subtle disagreement.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: UK, humorous

Examples

  • Erm, I don't think that was supposed to happen.
  • – Bob would never say something like that! – Erm, he just did.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

4

name

Meaning 4

Initialism of European Exchange Rate Mechanism.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: European-Union, abbreviation, alt-of, initialism

Topics: business, finance

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

5

noun

Meaning 5

Initialism of enterprise relationship management.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: abbreviation, alt-of, initialism

Topics: computing, engineering, mathematics, natural-sciences, physical-sciences, sciences

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

6

noun

Meaning 6

Ellipsis of ERM protein family.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: abbreviation, alt-of, ellipsis

Topics: biochemistry, biology, chemistry, microbiology, natural-sciences, physical-sciences

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

Onomatopoeic.

Across languages

Translations

26 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Dutch: euh — expression of uncertainty
  • Estonian: ää — expression of uncertainty
  • Finnish: öö — expression of uncertainty
  • Finnish: ää — expression of uncertainty
  • Finnish: umm — expression of uncertainty
  • Finnish: ööh — expression of uncertainty
  • French: euh — expression of uncertainty
  • German: äh — expression of uncertainty
  • Icelandic: hérna — expression of uncertainty
  • Italian: uhm — expression of uncertainty
  • Polish: hm — expression of uncertainty
  • Polish: hmm — expression of uncertainty
  • Portuguese: hm — expression of uncertainty
  • Russian: эээ (eee) — expression of uncertainty
  • Russian: эммм (emmm) — expression of uncertainty
  • Russian: хммм (xmmm) — expression of uncertainty
  • Serbo-Croatian: ovaj — expression of uncertainty
  • Serbo-Croatian: umm — expression of uncertainty
  • Swedish: öh — expression of uncertainty
  • Welsh: ym — expression of uncertainty
  • Dutch: euh — indication of secondary message
  • Finnish: öhöm — indication of secondary message
  • Finnish: tuota — indication of secondary message
  • Finnish: tota — indication of secondary message
  • French: MCE — European Exchange Rate Mechanism
  • Spanish: MTC — European Exchange Rate Mechanism