Chaff
Chaff by Laughs Galore April 13, 2009
Chaff
Chaff by Lordoftherings April 17, 2019
Chaff
Chaff by Sarah tanner August 26, 2021
Chaff
A phone call from an unrecognized number where the caller leaves no voicemail or other message identifying themselves or explaining why they called.
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Unlike spam, chaff isn’t necessarily a scam, solicitation, robocall, or other known junk. You simply don’t know who called, and the caller left you no reason to call back.
The term comes from chaff—the worthless material separated from useful grain. The identifiable and meaningful calls are the wheat; the unexplained calls that leave nothing behind are the chaff.
Spam is known junk. Chaff is unknown and leaves nothing behind.
———————-
Unlike spam, chaff isn’t necessarily a scam, solicitation, robocall, or other known junk. You simply don’t know who called, and the caller left you no reason to call back.
The term comes from chaff—the worthless material separated from useful grain. The identifiable and meaningful calls are the wheat; the unexplained calls that leave nothing behind are the chaff.
Spam is known junk. Chaff is unknown and leaves nothing behind.
“Who called?”
“No idea. I didn’t recognize the number and they didn’t leave a message. Just chaff.”
“I had five missed calls today: one from my dentist, two spam calls, and two chaff.”
“No idea. I didn’t recognize the number and they didn’t leave a message. Just chaff.”
“I had five missed calls today: one from my dentist, two spam calls, and two chaff.”
Chaff by Bobo the clown September 10, 2026
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