# gobbledygook

/ˌɡɑbəɫdiˈɡʊk/ (US) · /ɡˈɒbəldˌɪɡʊk/ (UK) · CEFR B2 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/gobbledygook
Updated: 2026-08-23

## Definition

Language that sounds important but makes no sense — usually because someone used too many long words or technical terms. You often find it in official documents that are trying to hide simple ideas behind complex sentences.

For teachers: Unintelligible or meaningless language, especially jargon-heavy prose that obscures rather than communicates meaning; often applied to pretentious official or legal writing.

## Examples

- This contract contains too much legal gobbledygook.
- The lawyer translated the letter's gobbledygook into plain English so the tenants understood their rights.
- Critics dismissed the minister's statement as bureaucratic gobbledygook designed to obscure the fact that funding would be cut by half.

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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.