nukespeak

[ noook-speeknyoook- ]

noun

1. Informal. euphemistic language and obscuring jargon used in discussions of nuclear weapons, nuclear power, etc.:

   nukespeak that minimizes the risks of nuclear war.

Word History and Origins

Origin of nukespeak¹

First recorded in 1975–80; nuke + -speak

Example Sentences

In the jargon of nukespeak, some Europe-based, intermediate-range American weapons are necessary to serve the cause of "coupling" between the U.S. and its allies.

From Time Magazine Archive

They fear that after absorbing half a dozen or more American strikes against missile-launching silos, command-and-control bunkers, and other critical "nodes" in the network of their political and military leadership structure, the Soviets would still be able, in the jargon of nukespeak, to "reconstitute their forces" and "win" the war thanks to their inventory of initially undeployed missiles.

From Time Magazine Archive