Gobbledygook
/ˈɡɒb.əl.diˌɡʊk/noun
Language that is obscure, needlessly complicated, or difficult to understand, especially bureaucratic language.
Did you know?Gobbledygook was coined in 1944 by U.S. Congressman Maury Maverick, who urged officials to stop writing in “gobbledygook” and communicate plainly.
Etymological Timeline
1944
American English
gobbledygook
“A newly coined term for unintelligible, bureaucratic language.”
1944
American English
gobble
“The word’s expressive opening, echoing the noisy speech of a turkey.”
1944
American English
gobbledygook
“Popularized by Congressman Maury Maverick in a memorandum criticizing obscure official writing.”
Late 1940s
English
gobbledegook
“A common spelling variant of the term for meaningless or confusing language.”
Modern English
English
gobbledygook
“Needlessly complex, pompous, or incomprehensible language, especially in government, business, or law.”