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

/ dʒɑːˈɡuːn, ˈdʒɑːɡɒn /

noun

1. rare,  mineralogy a golden yellow, smoky, or colourless variety of zircon

jargon

²

/ 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

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

C18: from French, from Italian giargone, ultimately from Persian zargūn of the golden colour; see _zircon

Origin of jargon²

C14: from Old French, perhaps of imitative origin; see _gargle

Synonym Study

See language.

Example Sentences

Like John le Carré, he creates his own jargon: safe houses are “coops,” spycraft is “artifice,” freelance agents are “units” and deep-cover moles are “termites.”

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

As someone deeply invested in a certain rock lineage — but who writes with a grasp of the emotional jargon of our time — are you glad to be living in an age of therapy-speak?

Read more on Los Angeles Times

She had trouble understanding the jargon of investing and was confused by such terms as ETFs and index funds.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Belt-tightening is overused corporate jargon, but it is particularly apt at the moment.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Their language was neutral and polished, laced with political jargon.

Read more on Salon

Related Words

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