jargon1
/ˈdʒɑːɡ(ə)n
/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.
Synonyms
specialized language, technical language, slang, cant, idiom, argot, patter, patois, vernacular;
computerese, legalese, bureaucratese, journalese, psychobabble;
unintelligible language, obscure language, gobbledegook, gibberish, double Dutch
informal lingo, -speak, -ese, mumbo jumbo, geekspeak
1.1 archaic A form of language regarded as barbarous, debased, or hybrid.
Derivatives
jargonistic
- The man who helped to change the face of literary studies despised what he calls here ‘jaw-shattering jargonistic postmodernism’, and gave up reading cultural theory years earlier.
- Obscure and jargonistic text is not informative.
- In the end, they resort to jargonistic platforms and abstract slogans about democracy that are unappealing to the public.
jargonic
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.
Modern life is full of jargon, language used by a particular group that is difficult for other people to understand. It comes from Old French jargoun ‘the warbling of birds’, and in medieval English meant ‘twittering, chattering’ and also ‘gibberish’. Our current sense had developed by the 17th century. See also chat
jargon2
/ˈdʒɑːɡ(ə)n/(also jargoon /dʒɑːˈɡuːn/)
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.
Origin
Mid 18th century: from French, from Italian giargone; probably ultimately related to zircon.