Jargon
/ˈdʒɑːrɡən/
nounB2
Definition
Jargon means the special words, expressions, or language used by people in the same job, hobby, or group. These words help them communicate quickly but can be confusing for people outside that group. For example, doctors, computer users, or sports players often use jargon.
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See It in Action
Special language used by a group of people
- •The lawyer used legal jargon that was hard for the client to understand.
- •Programmers often speak in jargon that confuses new learners.
- •Sports commentators use jargon to describe plays quickly.
Confusing or technical language to outsiders
- •The instructions were full of jargon, so I couldn’t follow them.
- •Avoid using jargon when talking to people who don’t know the subject.
Make It Stick
- ✓Think of "jargon" like "words," but these words are special and only clear to certain people.
- ✓Picture a group of doctors talking fast using words you don’t know, like "stat" or "BP."
- ✓It’s the feeling when you hear people talking about a game or job, and you don’t understand because they use strange words.
- ✓Sounds like "JAR-gon" → imagine a jar full of secret words that only some people can open and understand.
- ✓Think of a secret code or special language that a group uses to talk faster or easier.
- ✓NOT like "normal language" (everyone understands), jargon is only clear to a small group.
- ✓NOT like "slang" (casual everyday words), jargon is more formal and linked to jobs or activities.
- ✓NOT like "accent" (way of speaking), jargon is about the words themselves, not how they sound.
Try Other Words
- •Terminology: special words used in a particular field (Use when talking about the official or technical words in a subject)
- •Slang: informal words used by groups, often casual (Use when words are informal and everyday, not formal or technical)
- •Buzzwords: popular or trendy words used in business or media (Use when words are fashionable but sometimes unclear or overused)
Unboxing
- •Word parts: (no clear prefix or suffix, the whole word is a root)
- •Etymology: From Old French "jargon," meaning "chatter" or "twittering" (talking quickly or unclearly)
- •Historical development: Originally meant meaningless talk or noise, later changed to mean special language of groups
- •Modern usage: Now used for technical or special words in jobs, hobbies, or groups, often seen as hard to understand by outsiders
Reflect & Connect
•How does jargon help people in the same job or hobby communicate better?
•Can jargon make communication harder between different groups? Why or why not?
Fill in the blanks
1.The lawyer’s explanation was full of jargon, making it ___ for the client to understand the case.
2.People use jargon to talk quickly, but it can ___ others who don’t know the special words.
3.When you learn a new hobby, you might hear jargon that ___ your understanding at first.
4.Teachers should avoid jargon when explaining new ideas to ___ students.
5.The doctor used medical jargon, so the patient asked for ___ words.
6.Jargon is different from slang because it is usually ___ and related to a specific field.
7.If a text is full of jargon, you can infer it is meant for people with ___ knowledge of the topic.