politicese

English

Alternative forms

• politickese

Etymology

From politic +‎ -ese.

Noun

politicese (uncountable)

1. Political jargon, language used by politicians.
   • 1920 March 18, E. W. Anibal, “To-Day’s Prize Letter”, in New York Tribune, volume LXXIX, number 26,786, page 9:

     There is scarcely a section of Republican or Democratic platform that a voter would refuse to accept. In the words of Dr. Holmes, they excel in “saying undisputed things in a solemn way.” But that is typical of politicese, the language used by platform makers.

   • 1948 July 15, “How to Win an Election (Maybe)”, in The Modoc Country and Surprise Valley Record‎^[1], volume 56, number 19:

     They had hoped to get General Eisenhower to act as their chief inducer. But the General said “No.” After careful and accurate translation from English into the “politicese” this was interpreted to mean—“No.”

   • 1988, Sally Jessy Raphael, M. J. Abadie, Finding Love, New York, N.Y.: Jove Books, →ISBN, page 72:

     If you speak your business jargon after hours—whether it’s computerese or politicese, stock marketese or medicalese—your chances of communicating with anyone not in your profession is going to be extremely limited.

Synonyms

• politicianese

Translations

political jargon, language used by politicians — see politicianese