# buzzword

/ˈbəzwɝd/ (US) · /bˈʌzwɜːd/ (UK) · CEFR B2 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/buzzword
Updated: 2026-10-18

## Definition

a popular word or phrase that everyone uses for a short time because it sounds modern or important. You hear it a lot in business, media, and politics.

For teachers: a fashionable term that gains wide currency through repeated use in media, business, or public discourse, often implying novelty or importance beyond its precise meaning.

## Examples

- Sustainability is the new buzzword in our office.
- The manager uses innovation as a buzzword in every meeting without explaining what it means.
- Though synergy began as a useful business buzzword, overuse stripped it of meaning until staff heard it as empty corporate noise.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.