Word page
Gobbledygook is what happens when language stops helping and starts flapping around uselessly. It refers to jargon, nonsense, or overcomplicated writing that is hard to understand and often harder to justify.
Quick facts
Pronunciation
Meaning
Gobbledygook means language that is dense, inflated, jargon-heavy, or nearly impossible to understand. It is often used to criticize bureaucratic writing, political spin, technical clutter, or any speech that hides simple ideas behind unnecessary complexity.
Absurdity
Gobbledygook feels absurd because it turns a complaint about bad language into a miniature performance of sound. The word itself is gloriously overstuffed, yet far clearer than the thing it criticizes.
Word history
Gobbledygook was popularized in the 1940s by U.S. politician Maury Maverick, who used it to attack inflated bureaucratic language. The word likely draws on the sound of a turkey gobbling, which perfectly suits the sense of noisy, foolish verbal excess.
Usage today
Yes. Gobbledygook is still widely used when criticizing jargon, bureaucratic language, or overcomplicated writing.
Examples
Use it well
Use gobbledygook when you want a vivid term for language that obscures instead of explains. It is excellent in criticism, editing, teaching, and commentary.
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