ENGLISH
REFERENCE

lingo

n. C / U
B2 Upper Intermediate US //ˈɫɪŋɡoʊ// UK //lˈɪŋɡəʊ// lin·go Informal

n. the special words or phrases used by a specific group of people. You use this when talking about technical language or slang that is hard for outsiders to understand.

n. the vocabulary or jargon associated with a particular subject, occupation, or social group. Often carries a slightly dismissive or informal tone when used by those outside the group.


SIMPLE

I don't understand the legal lingo in this contract.

CONTEXTUAL

After a week on the trading floor, she finally started to pick up the financial lingo used by her colleagues.

COMPLEX

While the software developers spoke a technical lingo that baffled the marketing team, both groups eventually found common ground through shared project goals.

Synonyms
Origin

From Latin lingua (“language”) + -o (diminutive suffix).

Usage

Usually uncountable when referring to the general style of speech; countable when referring to a specific variety.

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