lingo

¹

[ling-goh]

noun

plural

lingoes 

1. the language and speech, especially the jargon, slang, or argot, of a particular field, group, or individual.

   gamblers' lingo.

2. language or speech, especially if strange or foreign.

lingo

²

[ling-goh]

noun

plural

lingoes 

1. lingoe.

lingo

/ ˈlɪŋɡəʊ /

noun

1. informal,  any foreign or unfamiliar language, jargon, etc

Word History and Origins

Origin of lingo¹

1650–60; apparently alteration of lingua (franca); compare Polari lingo “language”

Word History and Origins

Origin of lingo¹

C17: perhaps from _{lingua franca} ; compare Portuguese lingoa tongue

Example Sentences

A few of these reports have included amusing “to be sure” paragraphs, to use trade lingo: brief acknowledgments of some contrary argument or analogous trend.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

In the healthcare and insurance lingo we’ve all been forced to learn and use in recent years, this was a “well visit.”

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

How much of the archaic lingo below can you decipher?

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

When it comes to surfing, they know the lingo and the fun.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

One doesn't need to know all the intricate finance lingo about "subprime mortgages" and investment "bundles" to understand why we must keep regulators in power who will prevent such shenanigans in the future.

Read more on Salon

Related Words

• argot 
• jargon 
• patois 
• slang 
• vernacular 
• vocabulary