I have a question: Is there a word for the missing liquid in an unopened bottle? If any of you can recall, bottles that contain liquid are not usually filled to the top; they have an area that isn't full, much like a bag of potato chips. Is there a word in English for this? I think there may be as I think I've heard it before, but I can't remember and just wanted to know.

Thank you for taking the time to find out.

  • P.S. I think I've just remembered it. It's ullage. Can anyone confirm that I am correct? or is this just used for lost liquid?
    – Nick
    Jan 6 '18 at 4:41
  • Please use existing tags - a tag with a single question associated with it isn't useful. There is some information on tags in the help center and the Death of Meta Tags blog post.
    – ColleenV
    Jan 6 '18 at 13:31

Merriam Webster online states:

Definition of ullage

: the amount that a container (such as a tank or cask) lacks of being full

(And what clumsy definition that is.)

Oxford online says much the same, but expresses it better, and is broader:

Definition of ullage in English:



mass noun

1 The amount by which a container falls short of being full.

  • Thanks. When I wrote this question, I couldn't remember the word, but it later popped into my head and I was pretty sure that I had remembered it correctly.
    – Nick
    Jan 6 '18 at 5:42

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