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

Also jar·goon

[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 Word Forms

• jargony adjective
• jargonistic adjective
• jargonist noun
• jargoneer 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

“People don’t like fitness jargon,” Teo, 33, said in a recent interview with The Times.

From Los Angeles Times

But you don’t need to know the academic jargon to hear the truth.

From Salon

"It's not about making your website pink. It's about using less jargon, competitive language, and masculine imagery," she says.

From BBC

A year ago, just weeks after winning the general election, seven Labour MPs had the whip removed, to use the Westminster jargon, having voted against the two-child benefit cap.

From BBC

It’s intentionally written in such a way that anyone can pick it up and get started on a project — Moore’s wife scanned his manuscript for jargon before the book was published.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

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