computerese: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowInformal, often pejorative
Quick answer
What does “computerese” mean?
The jargon or technical language used by people working with computers.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The jargon or technical language used by people working with computers.
Any overly technical, obscure, or convoluted language that is difficult for non-experts to understand, often used pejoratively to describe unnecessarily complex communication.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning. Both varieties use the term similarly.
Connotations
Universally carries a mildly negative or critical connotation, suggesting language that is alienating to laypeople.
Frequency
Equally low frequency in both varieties, primarily found in writing about language, technology, or communication.
Grammar
How to Use “computerese” in a Sentence
[be] written in + computerese[translate/explain] the + computerese + [of something][avoid/use] + computereseVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “computerese” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The manual was so computeresed that I needed a translator.
- Stop computeresing and just tell me if I should reboot it.
American English
- The contract's tech section was completely computeresed.
- He tends to computereze when asked a simple question.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used in internal communications or customer-facing documents to criticise overly technical explanations from IT departments.
Academic
Found in linguistics, communication studies, or technical writing courses discussing clarity and audience awareness.
Everyday
Rare. Might be used by someone frustrated by a manual or helpline explanation.
Technical
Used self-reflectively by tech professionals advising colleagues to avoid jargon when speaking to clients or non-technical stakeholders.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “computerese”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “computerese”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “computerese”
- Using it to refer positively to efficient technical communication (it's inherently critical).
- Confusing it with 'computer language' meaning programming code.
- Using it as an adjective for people ('a computerese expert') instead of language ('computerese jargon').
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is an informal, blend word used descriptively and often critically in discussions about language and communication.
Not typically. It refers to the jargon-filled *natural language* used to talk about computers and software, not to the programming code itself.
Not directly. Neutral terms like 'technical terminology' or 'specialist lexicon' lack the negative connotation. 'Computerese' itself implies the jargon is excessive or alienating.
It rhymes with 'ease' or 'sneeze' (/iːz/). The stress falls on the last syllable: com-pu-ter-ESE.
The jargon or technical language used by people working with computers.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[talk/explain] in plain English, not computerese”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'COMPUTER' + 'CHINESE' (as in 'It might as well be Chinese'). Computerese is language so specialised it feels like a foreign tongue to outsiders.
Conceptual Metaphor
LANGUAGE IS A BARRIER / LANGUAGE IS A CODE (computerese is a wall or a cipher that needs decoding).
Practice
Quiz
In which context would the term 'computerese' MOST LIKELY be used critically?