journalese

American  

[jur-nl-eez, -ees] / ˌdʒɜr nlˈiz, -ˈis /

noun

1. a manner of writing or speaking characterized by clichés, occasional neologism, archness, sensationalizing adjectives, unusual or faulty syntax, etc., used by some journalists, especially certain columnists, and regarded as typical journalistic style.

2. writing or expression in this manner.

   Get that journalese out of your copy!

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adjective

1. of, relating to, or characterized by this manner (often used predicatively).

   That word's not English, it's journalese.

journalese British  

/ ˌdʒɜːnəˈliːz /

noun

1. derogatory a superficial cliché-ridden style of writing regarded as typical of newspapers

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Etymology

Origin of journalese

First recorded in 1880–85; journal + -ese

Example Sentences

In The Harvest Gypsies articles, Steinbeck wrote in direct, matter-of-fact journalese.

From The Guardian • Aug. 13, 2019

“TK” is journalese for “to come,” and the story kame as promised a few minutes later, with “Historic” in the headline:

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 6, 2016

With the help of a reporter across the pond, my colleague Patrick LaForge unearths more examples of journalese:

From New York Times • May 26, 2015

Monk retells this great 20th-century tragedy magnificently, in measured English prose, not Time journalese.

From The Guardian • Dec. 16, 2012

"Ah, my dear fellow, it can't be described in cheap journalese!"

From Embarrassments by James, Henry