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Definition of jargon

jargon

/ˈdʒɑːr.ɡən/
jar · gon

Plural:jargons
•
Adjective:jargonistic
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jargon Lexical Profile

jargon Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

Special words or expressions that are used by a particular profession or group and are difficult for others to understand.

Example

"The legal contract was filled with dense jargon that required a lawyer to interpret."


2

Unintelligible, pretentious, or meaningless talk or writing; gibberish.

Example

"Critics dismissed the manifesto as pretentious academic jargon lacking any real substance."


3

A simplified form of speech, composed of elements from two or more languages, used for basic communication between speakers with no common language; a pidgin.

Example

"Traders along the coast developed a commercial jargon to conduct business across linguistic barriers."

Synonyms
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Antonyms
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Word Nuance & Usage

'Jargon' refers to technical vocabulary shared by a specific profession (often viewed as opaque to outsiders), whereas 'slang' is informal vocabulary used for social identity, and 'argot' or 'cant' refers to secret language used to exclude outsiders.

• Rhymes for jargon

Word Origin & Etymology

Borrowed into Middle English from Old French 'jargon', originally meaning the twittering or chattering of birds, and later extended to unintelligible human speech.

Cite this Entry


Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Jargon. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/jargon
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