What does jargon mean?
Jargon means the specialized vocabulary associated with a profession, field, or particular group of people. Terms such as medical jargon or legal jargon can allow experts to communicate precisely and efficiently, but they may also make communication less accessible to outsiders. In more disapproving contexts, jargon refers to speech or writing that seems obscure, inflated, or deliberately difficult to understand. The word is commonly used when discussing the relationship between specialist knowledge and general audiences: a speaker may be praised for explaining technical jargon plainly, or criticized for hiding behind jargon. Although jargon is usually neutral as a description of specialized terminology, calling something jargon often implies that it is excessive or exclusionary.
Specialized terminology used by a particular profession, group, or field of activity; by extension, language regarded as obscure or unnecessarily difficult to understand.
"The document contains so much legal jargon that its main purpose is unclear."
Often neutral for technical terminology, but potentially negative when suggesting that specialized language is obscure or exclusionary.
To use jargon, especially in writing or speech characterized by specialized or obscure terminology.
"The report jargonizes a simple problem in unnecessarily technical language."
Rare and more common in critical or formal commentary than in everyday conversation.
Usually pluralized when referring to different kinds of specialized terminology, though the singular is far more common in general use.
"Academic and corporate jargons can create barriers between specialists and the public."
Jargon once referred to the chattering of birds before acquiring its modern sense of specialized or difficult-to-understand language.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does jargon come from?
The English word entered through French jargon, from the Old French jargier, associated with chattering or the noisy call of birds. The sense developed from noisy or unintelligible speech to the specialized or obscure language of a particular group. The word is related in origin to garble, which likewise concerns confused or unintelligible speech.
Related word forms
How jargon is actually used
The term is neutral when referring to necessary specialist vocabulary, but it can sound critical when used to dismiss language as needlessly complicated. It is common in both formal and informal English.
Easily confused with jargon
Argot usually refers more specifically to the distinctive slang of a social group, such as thieves or musicians, whereas jargon is broader and often refers to specialized professional or technical terminology.