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buzzword

American  
[buhz-wurd] / ˈbʌzˌwɜrd /

noun

  1. a word or phrase, often sounding authoritative or technical, that is a vogue term in a particular profession, field of study, popular culture, etc.

Etymology

Origin of buzzword

First recorded in 1965–70; buzz + word

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

“It’s definitely the big buzzword in every bougie exercise class,” said Los Angeles-based yoga instructor Kyle Miller.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 19, 2026

Cohesion, often a buzzword last year, has been abandoned for new faces and untested combinations.

From BBC • Mar. 3, 2026

Fiber, it seems, has become the latest buzzword in the dietary space as fibermaxxing, the food trend of loading up on fiber, is predicted to take over 2025’s trend of protein-maxxing.

From Salon • Feb. 21, 2026

In an era when “affordability” has become a buzzword, consumers are cautious about spending — and buying items that could be deemed frivolous may make less sense to them.

From MarketWatch • Feb. 13, 2026

Netconomy started as a buzzword, joining net, network, and economy.

From The Civilization of Illiteracy by Nadin, Mihai

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.