artifact consisting of soft or resilient material used to fill or give shape or protect or add comfort
"The tailor added extra padding inside the coat sleeve to provide warmth and a smoother fit."
Soft filling material used in cushions etc.
"The old armchair needed more padding to become comfortable again."
In plain English: Padding is extra material added to something just to make it thicker, softer, or take up more space without adding real value.
"The book was too light, so I added some paper padding to both sides before mailing it."
Usage: Padding refers to soft material stuffed inside items like pillows or jackets to provide comfort and shape. It is distinct from the verb form, which describes adding unnecessary words to a text.
present participle of pad
"The runner felt the padding in his shoes as he sprinted toward the finish line."
The word padding comes from combining the verb pad with the suffix -ing to describe the act of adding soft material or moving by hopping lightly. It entered English as a straightforward formation that retains its original sense of filling space or traveling in an unsteady manner.