jargon
pronunciation
How to pronounce jargon in British English:
UK [ˈdʒɑːɡən]
How to pronounce jargon in American English:
US [ˈdʒɑːrɡən]
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- Noun:
- a characteristic language of a particular group (as among thieves)
- a colorless (or pale yellow or smoky) variety of zircon
- specialized technical terminology characteristic of a particular subject
Word Origin
- jargon (n.)
- mid-14c., "unintelligible talk, gibberish; chattering, jabbering," from Old French jargon "a chattering" (of birds), also "language, speech," especially "idle talk; thieves' Latin." Ultimately of echoic origin (compare Latin garrire "to chatter," English gargle). Often applied to something the speaker does not understand, hence meaning "mode of speech full of unfamiliar terms" (1650s). Middle English also had it as a verb, jargounen "to chatter" (late 14c.), from French.
Example
- 1. The recovery will spawn its own jargon in 2010 .
- 2. Do not let the math jargon intimidate you .
- 3. A third area of leadership is through jargon .
- 4. These remains are known in the jargon as particulate organic matter .
- 5. To use jargon for firings is wrong but understandable .