leetspeak

[ leet-speek ]

noun

, Digital Technology.

1. a coded spelling system and language used in very informal communications on the internet, featuring letters combined with numbers or special characters in place of letters that they may resemble, and including inventive misspellings, jargon, and slang.
2. the spelling conventions and jargon of this system and language.

leetspeak

/ ˈliːtˌspiːk /

noun

1. a jargon used by some internet groups, in which standard English is translated into a mixture of letters, numerals, and symbols found on a computer keyboard Also called1337

Word History and Origins

Origin of leetspeak¹

First recorded in 1980–85; leet (shortening and alteration of elite ) + -speak

Word History and Origins

Origin of leetspeak¹

C20: from elite + -speak