What does argot mean?
Argot is the distinctive vocabulary shared by a particular group — a profession, a subculture, or, classically, a criminal underworld. Unlike ordinary slang, which anyone might pick up, argot often functions as a kind of code: its purpose is not merely group identity but concealment, allowing insiders to communicate freely while remaining unintelligible to outsiders. The word entered English from French in the seventeenth century and has long been associated with thieves' cant, prison language, and street speech, though today it applies equally to the jargon of hackers, musicians, doctors, or any close-knit community. Writers and linguists value the term for precisely this nuance: where 'jargon' is neutral and technical, 'argot' hints at secrecy, solidarity, and a boundary between those who understand and those who do not. It remains a singular noun with no widely used derived forms, prized chiefly in descriptive and literary contexts.
nounThe specialized vocabulary or jargon used by a particular group, profession, or subculture, especially one that wishes its language to be opaque to outsiders.
- The specialized, often deliberately opaque vocabulary of a particular group, profession, or subculture.
"The thieves communicated in an argot so dense that even seasoned detectives struggled to follow them."
"Every profession develops its own argot, and software engineers are no exception."
"The novel's dialogue captures the argot of 1920s Parisian jazz clubs with remarkable authenticity."
Rarely used; 'argot' is normally uncountable. The plural appears mainly in academic writing comparing the vocabularies of several different groups.
"Linguists have documented the argots of pickpockets, sailors, and circus performers across Europe."
The word 'argot' itself may come from the secret language of French beggars and thieves — a word about secret words, whose own origins are hidden.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of argot
Argot was borrowed into English from French in the seventeenth century, where it referred to the cant or secret language of beggars and thieves. The ultimate origin of the French word is obscure and disputed, with proposed connections ranging from 'les Argotiers', a band of vagabonds, to various other sources, none firmly established. Because its root is uncertain, there are no reliable cognates in other languages; the word stands largely alone etymologically, which is fitting for a term describing hidden speech.
How argot is actually used
Argot carries a slightly literary or academic register compared with everyday terms like 'slang' or 'lingo', and it often connotes secrecy or exclusivity — language designed partly to exclude outsiders. It is most commonly applied to the speech of criminal groups, subcultures, and tight-knit professional communities.
Easily confused with argot
Jargon refers broadly to the technical terminology of any trade or field, while argot typically implies the secret or semi-secret vocabulary of a closed group such as criminals or a subculture.
Cant specifically denotes the secret speech of thieves and beggars, whereas argot is a broader term for any group's distinctive insider vocabulary.