Word of the Day - 05/30/26
jargon
/'dʒɑrgən/(n.): specialized technical terminology characteristic of a particular subject
The doctor explained the medical procedure without using too much jargon so the patient could understand.
(n.): unintelligible or meaningless talk or writing; gibberish
To me, the politician’s speech was just jargon — a stream of meaningless buzzwords with no clear point.
(n.): obscure and often pretentious language
The critic’s review was filled with literary jargon that seemed designed to impress rather than clarify.
Word Origin
The word 'jargon' entered English in the Middle English period as 'jargoun', derived from the Old French word 'jargon'. In Old French, 'jargon' referred to the chattering of birds or unintelligible talk. Its ultimate origin is believed to be imitative, mimicking sounds made in the throat or nonsensical speech.
Words with a similar imitative or throat-sound related origin include 'gargle' and 'gargoyle'. 'Gargle' comes from Old French 'gargouiller' (to gurgle or make a noise in the throat), and 'gargoyle' is also from Old French 'gargouille', referring to a throat or gullet, often associated with a waterspout and the gurgling sound of water.
Jargon refers to specialized vocabulary used within a particular profession, field, or group, often to communicate technical ideas efficiently but sometimes making speech hard for outsiders to understand. Parlance, by contrast, means the typical way of speaking or expressing ideas within a group, community, or context; it includes customary wording or style rather than just technical terms. In short, jargon is a type of specialized terminology, while parlance is the broader manner or mode of expression characteristic of a group.