- doublespeak
- doublespeak 1957, from DOUBLE (Cf. double) + SPEAK (Cf. speak), coined on model of DOUBLETHINK (Cf. doublethink) in Orwell's “Nineteen Eighty-Four” (the language in that book was NEWSPEAK (Cf. Newspeak)).
Etymology dictionary. 2014.
doublespeak
Look at other dictionaries:
doublespeak — ► NOUN ▪ deliberately ambiguous or obscure language. ORIGIN coined by George Orwell (see DOUBLETHINK(Cf. ↑doublethink)) … English terms dictionary
doublespeak — [dub′əlspēk΄] n. [coined with DOUBLE THINK] obscure or ambiguous language, esp. if meant to deceive … English World dictionary
Doublespeak — Not to be confused with double talk. Doublespeak is language that deliberately disguises, distorts, or reverses the meaning of words. Doublespeak may take the form of euphemisms (e.g., downsizing for layoffs), making the truth less unpleasant,… … Wikipedia
doublespeak — [[t]dʌ̱b(ə)lspiːk[/t]] N UNCOUNT (disapproval) If you refer to what someone says as doublespeak, you are criticizing them for presenting things in a way that is intended to hide the truth or give people the wrong idea. ...the doublespeak so… … English dictionary
doublespeak — noun Any language deliberately constructed to disguise or distort its actual meaning, often by employing euphemism or ambiguity. Typically used by governments or large institutions. The report was riddled with so much corporate doublespeak that… … Wiktionary
Doublespeak Award — The Doublespeak Award is an ironic tribute to public speakers who have perpetuated language that is grossly deceptive, evasive, euphemistic, confusing, or self centered. It has been issued by the National Council of Teachers of English since 1974 … Wikipedia
doublespeak — noun Date: 1952 language used to deceive usually through concealment or misrepresentation of truth; also gobbledygook • doublespeaker noun … New Collegiate Dictionary
doublespeak — doublespeaker, n. /dub euhl speek /, n. evasive, ambiguous language that is intended to deceive or confuse. [1950 55; DOUBLE + SPEAK, by analogy with DOUBLETHINK] * * * … Universalium
doublespeak — doub|le|speak [ˈdʌbəlˌspi:k] n [U] BrE speech that is complicated and can have more than one meaning, sometimes used deliberately to deceive or confuse people = ↑double talk … Dictionary of contemporary English
doublespeak — dou|ble|speak [ dʌblspik ] noun uncount DOUBLE TALK … Usage of the words and phrases in modern English
