noun
jargon
JAR-gun/ˈdʒɑːrɡən/
Language used by a particular group or profession that outsiders may find difficult to understand.
The chart's medical jargon is familiar to clinicians but puzzling to the patient.
Etymology
Old French jargon could mean birds’ chattering as well as speech. English moved from unintelligible talk to a profession’s specialized language, retaining the suggestion that outsiders may struggle to understand it.
In context
Instead of technical jargon, use language that makes sense to your users. This helps them understand what to do without guessing.
More examples
- The contract is full of legal jargon.
- New employees need time to learn the industry's jargon.
- Please replace the technical jargon with words our customers understand.
Similar words
- terminology
- Names a field's specialized terms without implying difficulty for outsiders.
- lingo
- Informally names a group's language, not necessarily difficult to understand.