Word: jargon (noun)

Associations

Jargon means special words or expressions used by a particular group, profession, or activity. It can be hard for outsiders to understand because it is specific to that group.

• In medicine, doctors use jargon like "BP" for blood pressure or "stat" for immediately.
• In computer programming, words like "bug," "debug," or "compile" are jargon.
• In sports, coaches might say "offside" or "touchdown" as jargon. Jargon is different from slang because jargon is often technical or professional language, while slang is informal language used by people socially.

Substitution

Instead of "jargon," you can say:

• "technical language" — more formal and specific to professions.
• "specialized terms" — emphasizes that the words are unique to a field.
• "buzzwords" — often trendy or popular words in a field but can be more superficial. Changing to these words can make the meaning clearer depending on the situation.

Deconstruction

The word "jargon" comes from Old French "jargon," meaning "chatter" or "twittering," originally describing unclear or meaningless talk. Over time, it came to mean special language used by groups. No prefix or suffix here; it is a simple noun.

Inquiry

• Can you think of any jargon used in your favorite hobby or job?
• How do you feel when you hear jargon you don’t understand?
• Why do you think groups use jargon instead of normal words? Does it help or make things harder?