Buzzwords

/ˈbʌzwɜrdz/ noun

Definition

Plural of buzzword; multiple trendy words or phrases that are used frequently in business, technology, or public discourse but often lack genuine substance.

Etymology

Simple plural of 'buzzword' (compound from 'buzz' + 'word') formed by adding '-s'. The singular form became common enough to require a regular plural form by the 1970s.

Kelly Says

Linguists have tracked how buzzwords actually function in corporate communication—they're not random but deliberately chosen to create a sense of novelty and sophistication while maintaining plausible deniability about specific meaning. 'Let's leverage our core competencies' means almost nothing, but sounds important.

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