jargon

¹ American  

[jahr-gon] / ˈdʒɑr gɒn /

Also jargoon

noun

1. a colorless to smoky gem variety of zircon.

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jargon ² American  

[jahr-guhn, -gon] / ˈdʒɑr gən, -gɒn /

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.

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verb (used without object)

1. to speak in or write jargon; jargonize.

jargon ¹ British  

/ 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

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verb

1. (intr) to use or speak in jargon

jargon ² British  

/ dʒɑːˈɡuːn, ˈdʒɑːɡɒn /

noun

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

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jargon Cultural  

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.)

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Related Words

See language.

Other Word Forms

• jargoneer noun
• jargonist noun
• jargonistic adjective
• jargony adjective

Etymology

Origin of jargon¹

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. )

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

Example Sentences

Be sure to include lots — lots — of caveats about “risk” and “volatility,” financial jargon, and downside scenarios.

From MarketWatch

The proposed changes are mired in jargon, but the potential impact is clear enough to spook many consumer advocates and everyday citizens.

From MarketWatch

Military aficionados will love the jargon and tech, and Mr. Wilson does a masterly job of combining Native American experience and ancestral connection with modern warfare for a satisfying resolution.

From The Wall Street Journal

Among the most daunting questions are one on Immanuel Kant's philosophy of law and another involving gaming jargon.

From BBC

There are lots of reasons why a young person might end up being "economically inactive", to use the jargon.

From BBC

Related Words

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