jargon

UK: /ˈdʒɑː^rgən/ US: /ˈdʒɑrgən/ ,( jär′gən, -gon)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

jar•gon¹ /ˈdʒɑrgən/   n. [uncountable]

1. Linguistics the specialized language used by a particular trade, profession, or group that is difficult for outsiders to understand:
   medical jargon; legal jargon.
2. Linguistics language that is overly complicated:
   The tax form was full of jargon.

jar•gon•y, jar•gon•is•tic, adj. 

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

jar•gon¹  ( jär′gən, -gon), n. 

1. Linguistics the language, esp. the vocabulary, peculiar to a particular trade, profession, or group:
   medical jargon.
2. unintelligible or meaningless talk or writing;
   gibberish.
3. any talk or writing that one does not understand.
4. Linguistics pidgin.
5. Linguistics language that is characterized by uncommon or pretentious vocabulary and convoluted syntax and is often vague in meaning.

v.i. 

6. to speak in or write jargon;
   jargonize.

• Middle French; Old French jargon, gargun, derivative of an expressive base *garg-; see gargle, gargoyle
• Middle English jargoun 1300–50

jar′gon•y, jar′gon•is′tic, adj. 
jar′gon•ist, jar′gon•eer′, n. 
Synonyms

• 1. See language. 
• 2. babble, gabble, twaddle.

jar•gon²  ( jär′gon), n. 

1. a colorless to smoky gem variety of zircon.

Also, jar•goon  ( jär go̅o̅n′). 

• Italian giargone Persian zargūn gold-colored
• French
• 1760–70

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

jargon / ˈdʒɑːɡən/ noun

1. specialized language concerned with a particular subject, culture, or profession
2. language characterized by pretentious syntax, vocabulary, or meaning
3. gibberish
4. another word for pidgin

Etymology: 14th Century: from Old French, perhaps of imitative origin; see gargle