# parlance

/ˈpɑɹɫəns/ (US) · /pˈɑːləns/ (UK) · CEFR C2 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/parlance
Updated: 2026-05-26

## Definition

the way people in a specific group or place talk about something. It is often used to describe the special words or phrases used by experts or people from a certain area.

For teachers: the manner of speaking or the vocabulary characteristic of a particular group, profession, or social class. Often used in the phrase 'in common parlance' to indicate how a term is generally understood by the public.

## Examples

- In common parlance, the word means something different than it does in science.
- The legal team explained the complex contract in plain English, as the technical parlance of the law can be confusing for non-experts.
- While the term was once used in the parlance of medieval scholars to describe a specific type of logic, it has since been replaced by more modern linguistic terminology.

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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.