Main definitions of jargon in English

jargon¹

noun

mass noun

1Special words or expressions used by a profession or group that are difficult for others to understand.
‘legal jargon’
- ‘This is the essential function of a cliché, and of cant and jargon; to neutralise expression and ‘vanish memory’.’
- ‘Jargon is a kind of SHORTHAND that makes long explanations unnecessary.’
- ‘In fact ask any management specialist, from any sector, to exclude every word of jargon from a conversation, and there is likely to be silence.’
- ‘Remember your international visitors by avoiding regional word usage or technical jargon that could alienate.’
- ‘Lord Woolf's challenge to the legal profession comes after he replaced the traditional trappings of Latin phrases and legal jargon as part of a review of civil courts.’
- ‘I also get the sense that some lawyers think baffling legal jargon and tortured syntax will impress their clients.’
- ‘But yesterday the Government's response was said to be so full of difficult wording and jargon that it was impossible to know what it said.’
- ‘Lay persons shouldn't be expected to understand medical jargon or complex terminology.’
- ‘One major obstacle remains: trials are still conducted in technical jargon that juries find difficult to understand and which prosecutors find difficult to establish as an overwhelming case.’
- ‘They have used words and jargon that ordinary people can't understand as a way of preserving and extending their power while excluding the vast majority of the population.’
- ‘When investing long term, you need to steer clear of plans that are difficult to understand or packed with jargon, have high charges or are inflexible and lock you in with penalties.’
- ‘Some visitors to your website may be from outside your industry and may not understand some of the jargon or acronyms.’
- ‘The IT&T industry is rife with acronyms, catchphrases and jargon.’
- ‘His invitation to the applicant to put an application under section 38 of the Evidence Act is couched in legal jargon, not in plain words.’
- ‘Many hospitals, for instance, make a professional available to go over the records with the patient, who might not understand the medical jargon therein.’
- ‘Cold and clinical to the point of boredom, filled with emotionless commentary and business jargon, it was difficult to tell what effect this character was meant to have.’
- ‘I don't understand all the technical jargon, but do agree with the general gist of maintaining freedom of communication outside the oppression of big business monopolies.’
- ‘There are three main reasons consumers do not compare financial products: misguided loyalty, inertia and an inability to understand financial jargon.’
- ‘The substitution of a clear word for euphemistic jargon is found in all forms of manufactured communication, but is perhaps most often used by the military.’
- ‘Bunett's prose is often loaded with arty jargon and heavyweight expressions that are virtually incomprehensible.’
specialized language, technical language, slang, cant, idiom, argot, patter, patois, vernacular
View synonyms
1. 1.1archaic A form of language regarded as barbarous, debased, or hybrid.

Origin

Late Middle English (originally in the sense ‘twittering, chattering’, later ‘gibberish’): from Old French jargoun, of unknown origin. The main sense dates from the mid 17th century.

Pronunciation

jargon

/ˈdʒɑːɡ(ə)n/

Main definitions of jargon in English

: jargon¹ jargon²

jargon²

(also jargoon)

noun

mass noun

A translucent, colourless, or smoky gem variety of zircon.
- ‘In India today the jargoon is sold as a stone which protects the wearer from poison and evil spirits.’
- ‘The zircon, hyacinth, jacinth, or jargoon belong to the tetragonal system of crystallization.’
- ‘He is presented with a belt whose clasp is ornamented with jargoon, a kind of yellowish stone.’
- ‘The terms jacinth and jargoon refer to zircons in the old names of the stones.’
- ‘Anyway, when Teal made his comment, I guess that is when she realized the tennis bracelet was ‘real’ instead of the jargoon they make everything out of (not that I don't like jargoon, even the artificial stuff they call zirconium, but diamonds just seemed nicer).’