parlance
C1/C2Formal / Neutral
Definition
Meaning
A particular way of speaking or using words; a style or manner of expression.
The specialized vocabulary, idiom, or style of a particular group, profession, or subject area.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Neutral in itself, but the content of the parlance described can be neutral (legal parlance), technical (scientific parlance), or informal (street parlance).
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning or usage. The word is equally understood and used in formal registers in both varieties.
Connotations
Formal, slightly academic or professional. Neither variety has a unique connotation.
Frequency
Used similarly in both, perhaps slightly more frequent in UK parliamentary/journalistic contexts, but no strong disparity.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
in [adjective] parlanceVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “In the parlance of our times...”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Used to explain corporate jargon, e.g., 'In business parlance, this is called a "synergy"'.
Academic
Frequently used in linguistics, sociology, and political science to discuss specialized language.
Everyday
Used in discussions about trends, slang, or specific fields, e.g., 'In everyday parlance, we just call it a phone'.
Technical
Used to define terms within a field, e.g., 'In medical parlance, a "myocardial infarction" is a heart attack'.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- (No common verb form for 'parlance')
American English
- (No common verb form for 'parlance')
adverb
British English
- (No common adverb form for 'parlance')
American English
- (No common adverb form for 'parlance')
adjective
British English
- (No common adjective form for 'parlance')
American English
- (No common adjective form for 'parlance')
Examples
By CEFR Level
- In simple parlance, a 'vehicle' is a car or a bus.
- What is 'AI' in common parlance? It means artificial intelligence.
- In business parlance, 'B2B' means business-to-business.
- The word 'cool' in youth parlance often means 'good' or 'fashionable'.
- In legal parlance, the accused is referred to as 'the defendant'.
- In modern political parlance, 'woke' has taken on a very specific meaning.
- In the parlance of critical theory, 'deconstruct' has a precise methodological meaning.
- The shift from 'global warming' to 'climate change' in environmental parlance was a deliberate strategic choice.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of PARLIAMENT – a place of formal speech and specific terminology. PARLANCE is the language specific to any group or topic.
Conceptual Metaphor
LANGUAGE IS A TERRITORY / LANGUAGE IS A TOOL. ('the parlance of finance', 'using legal parlance').
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not directly translate as 'разговор' (conversation).
- Closer to 'язык', 'терминология', or 'слог' (as in стиль).
- Avoid confusing with 'парилка' (sauna) due to phonetic similarity.
Common Mistakes
- Using it to mean 'a conversation' (e.g., 'We had a parlance' is incorrect).
- Incorrect pronunciation: /pɑːrˈlæns/.
Practice
Quiz
What is the most accurate definition of 'parlance'?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, absolutely. 'Parlance' refers to any characteristic way of speaking of a group, from highly formal jargon ('legal parlance') to informal slang ('street parlance').
It is generally used as an uncountable noun. You would not typically say 'two parlances'. You might refer to 'different types of parlance'.
The most common structure is the prepositional phrase: 'in [adjective] parlance' (e.g., 'in common parlance', 'in technical parlance').
'Parlance' is the broadest, referring to the entire style of speech. 'Jargon' often has a negative connotation (unclear, exclusionary). 'Terminology' is more neutral and focuses specifically on the set of terms used.
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