lingo

UK: /ˈlɪŋgəʊ/ US: /ˈlɪŋgoʊ/ ,(ling′gō)

Inflections of 'lingo' (n): npl: lingoes

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

lin•go¹ /ˈlɪŋgoʊ/   n. [countable] , pl. -goes. 

1. Linguistics the language or vocabulary, esp. the jargon or slang, of a particular field, group, or individual:
   "Pre-owned'' is car-salesman lingo for "used.''
2. Linguistics language or speech, esp. if strange or foreign:
   Can you speak the local lingo?

See -ling-.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

lin•go¹  (ling′gō), n., pl. -goes. 

1. Linguistics the language and speech, esp. the jargon, slang, or argot, of a particular field, group, or individual:
   gamblers' lingo.
2. Linguistics language or speech, esp. if strange or foreign.

• 1650–60; apparently alteration of lingua (franca); compare Polari lingo language

lin•go²  (ling′gō), n., pl. -goes. 

1. Textiles lingoe.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

lingo / ˈlɪŋɡəʊ/ noun ( -goes)

1. any foreign or unfamiliar language, jargon, etc

Etymology: 17th Century: perhaps from lingua franca; compare Portuguese lingoa tongue