jargon

1
[ jahr-guhn, -gon ]
See synonyms for jargon on Thesaurus.com
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.

  1. any talk or writing that one does not understand.

  2. language that is characterized by uncommon or pretentious vocabulary and convoluted syntax and is often vague in meaning.

verb (used without object)
  1. to speak in or write jargon; jargonize.

Origin of jargon

1
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

synonym study For jargon

1. See language.

Other words for jargon

Other words from jargon

  • jar·gon·y, jar·gon·is·tic, adjective
  • jar·gon·ist, jar·gon·eer, noun

Words that may be confused with jargon

Other definitions for jargon (2 of 2)

jargon2
[ jahr-gon ]

noun
  1. a colorless to smoky gem variety of zircon.

Origin of jargon

2
First recorded in 1760–70; from French, from Italian giargone, of uncertain origin; perhaps ultimately from Persian zargūn “gold-colored” (cf. zircon ), equivalent to zar “gold” (see also arsenic, gold, yellow ) + gūn “color”; alternatively, perhaps akin to Old French jacincte, also jacunces, jargonce jacinth
  • Also jar·goon [jahr-goon]. /dʒɑrˈgun/.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use jargon in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for jargon (1 of 2)

jargon1

/ (ˈdʒɑːɡən) /


noun
  1. specialized language concerned with a particular subject, culture, or profession

  2. language characterized by pretentious syntax, vocabulary, or meaning

  1. gibberish

  2. another word for pidgin

verb
  1. (intr) to use or speak in jargon

Origin of jargon

1
C14: from Old French, perhaps of imitative origin; see gargle

British Dictionary definitions for jargon (2 of 2)

jargon2

jargoon (dʒɑːˈɡuːn)

/ (ˈdʒɑːɡɒn) /


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

Origin of jargon

2
C18: from French, from Italian giargone, ultimately from Persian zargūn of the golden colour; see zircon

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Cultural definitions for jargon

jargon

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.)

The New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.