jargon

¹

[ jahr-guhn, -gon ]

noun

1. the language, especially the vocabulary, peculiar to a particular trade, profession, or group:

   medical jargon.

2. unintelligible or meaningless talk or writing; gibberish.

   Synonyms: twaddle, gabble, babble

3. any talk or writing that one does not understand.
4. pidgin.
5. language that is characterized by uncommon or pretentious vocabulary and convoluted syntax and is often vague in meaning.

verb (used without object)

1. to speak in or write jargon; jargonize.

jargon

²

[ jahr-gon ]

noun

1. a colorless to smoky gem variety of zircon.

jargon

¹

/ ˈdʒɑːɡən /

noun

1. specialized language concerned with a particular subject, culture, or profession
2. language characterized by pretentious syntax, vocabulary, or meaning
3. gibberish
4. another word for pidgin

verb

1. intr to use or speak in jargon

jargon

²

/ dʒɑːˈɡuːn; ˈdʒɑːɡɒn /

noun

1. rare.
   mineralogy a golden yellow, smoky, or colourless variety of zircon

jargon

1. A special language belonging exclusively to a group, often a profession. Engineers, lawyers, doctors, tax analysts, and the like all use jargon to exchange complex information efficiently. Jargon is often unintelligible to those outside the group that uses it. For example, here is a passage from a computer manual with the jargon italicized: “The RZ887-x current loop interface allows the computer to use a centronics blocked duplex protocol .” ( See slang .)

Other Words From

• jargon·y jargon·istic adjective
• jargon·ist jargon·eer noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of jargon¹

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English jargoun, from Middle French; Old French jargon, gargun, derivative of an unrecorded expressive base garg- designating the throat and its functions, as in gargle, gargoyle

Origin of jargon²

First recorded in 1760–70; from French, from Italian giargone, of uncertain origin; perhaps ultimately from Persian zargūn “gold-colored” ( zircon ( def ) ), equivalent to zar “gold” ( arsenic ( def ), gold ( def ), yellow ( def ) ) + gūn “color”; alternatively, perhaps akin to Old French jacincte, also jacunces, jargonce jacinth ( def )

Word History and Origins

Origin of jargon¹

C14: from Old French, perhaps of imitative origin; see gargle

Origin of jargon²

C18: from French, from Italian giargone, ultimately from Persian zargūn of the golden colour; see zircon

Synonym Study

See language.

Example Sentences

You know: fancy, elite college types trying to shove social-justice jargon down the throats of every firefighter and auto mechanic in the country.

From Slate

On Wednesday, Yglesias posted a list of rules that he thinks Democrats should follow going forward; several of them boil down to rejecting the inclusion jargon used by activists and academics.

From Slate

Squares are designed around the campaign jargon favored by pundits, highly specific details that only play out on one network, and election personalities like Steve Kornacki, John King and Arnon Mishkin.

From Salon

Californians already grappling with the challenges that come with unemployment will no longer have to decipher a lot of jargon when applying for unemployment benefits, thanks to a simpler online application the state rolled out Monday.

From Los Angeles Times

The applicable campaign jargon for what Cheney is doing here is trying to create a “permission structure” for Trump-weary Republicans to make that final leap to Harris.

From Slate

Related Words

• argot
• idiom
• lingo
• parlance
• patois
• slang
• vernacular
• vocabulary