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Bring up the topic of workplace jargon, and many people will roll their eyes, sigh, or groan. Workplace jargon can seem silly, confusing, unclear, and overused. But new jargon pops up regularly, spreads, is adopted quickly, and is hard to eradicate. 

What is jargon exactly? The first three definitions provided by Merriam-Webster refer to it, in part, as “technical terminology,” “obscure and often pretentious language,” and “confused unintelligible language.” Jargon is common in workplaces, sports, the military, academia, and other places.  

Jargon slips into everyday business conversations without our even being aware it’s happening. We’re out of pocket, we put a pin in it, we look for low-hanging fruit, or we need to wrap up the project and throw it over the wall. It’s worth asking ourselves if we share a common understanding of what these and other jargon mean. Do we find ourselves searching the Internet for something we heard in a meeting?  

Problems with Jargon 

For individuals for whom English is not their first language, decoding business jargon can be a major hurdle. Consider, for example, the images that come to mind when we think literally about low-hanging fruit: a tree with apples on the bottom branches where you don’t have to climb to pick them or grapes that are within easy arm’s reach on the vine. It can take considerable mental energy and stress to make the connection to what the speaker probably means: an easy success or win. 

Some neurodivergent employees, especially those with autism, are literal thinkers, hearing and interpreting the actual meaning of words or phrases, rather than making inferences or understanding the metaphor. Think about the literal meaning of phrases like having ducks in a row or throwing someone under the bus, and you begin to see how the use of jargon can inhibit effective, productive communication and affect relationships. It’s possible that overuse of jargon can also hinder an organization’s commitment to a diverse workforce and to inclusion.  

In fact, jargon may promote exclusion. Jargon and acronyms have some legitimate place in industries or companies, providing shorthand for otherwise long, clumsy, business-specific phrases. It can be an efficient communication tool as long as the organization ensures that there is a common understanding of meaning. However, the use of jargon is often tied to how someone wants to be perceived by others: in the know, an insider, someone with status.  

Overuse of jargon can backfire. LinkedIn’s recent State of Workplace Jargon Report 2023 tells us that jargon can lead to a sense of inequity and disconnection, especially among remote and hybrid workers and employees from non-English speaking households. According to LinkedIn, employees say that jargon can make communication complicated, prompt misunderstanding, and damage productivity. According to the report, 60% of Gen Z and 65% of millennials want to minimize the use of jargon.