legalese
nounUK /ˌliː.ɡəˈliːz/ · CA, US /ˌli.ɡəˈliz/
Etymology From legal + -ese.
1
Derogatory, Informal Technical jargon common in the legal profession; the argot of lawyers.
- It is also his considered opinion that a condition precedent to any legislative action is that those best qualified to pronounce on the merits of a popular demand examine it in all its aspects. That is good Menzian legalese, as pompous as parody permits.1937 October 9, Smith's Weekly, Sydney, page 12, column 1:
2
Derogatory, Informal Wordy, ostentatious talk or writing that resembles legal writing, especially when confusing to laypeople; bureaucratese; officialese.
- Synonyms
- lawspeak, legalspeak