Officialese
Definition, Meaning & Examples
Pronunciation /ə.fɪ.ʃəˈliːz/ · Part of speech noun
Quick meaning: Officialese is a noun meaning The typical language of officials or official documents; legalistic and pompous language.
Meaning
The typical language of officials or official documents; legalistic and pompous language.
Example Sentences
These were men, the chronicler continued, who ‘spoke pleasantly’, in the smooth officialese that most of Henry's counsellors were accustomed to deploy […]
But while using officialese might give your writing the outward appearance of being thorough and correct, that doesn't mean there's anything happening underneath. Officialese is a kind of defense mechanism. It's rooted in the fear of getting something wrong, or leaving something out, or looking stupid.
Word Forms
- officialeses
Synonyms for officialese
Depending on context, synonyms include bureaucratese.
Related Words
Related dictionary entries include legalese, formalese, bureaucratese, professionalese, bureaucratspeak, policespeak.
Related Dictionary Tools
Sources & Attribution
FreeDictionaryAPI.com / Wiktionary · Original source · CC BY-SA 4.0
Dictionary data is provided by FreeDictionaryAPI.com and sourced from Wiktionary under its stated license.