Dictionary

politicianese en · NOUN

Etymology

From politician + -ese.

Meanings

1. (uncountable) Political jargon; the obfuscatory or euphemistic language used by politicians.
   • In journalese and politicianese every warning is grave, every destruction wanton, every feeling sensibly felt[…] 1923, Edward Willmore, “Preface”, in Cromwell, the Protector: A Play, page vii:
   • He later defended this kind of work: ‘A slogan, a poster with just a few words (hard words) is worth a thousand polished, hypocritical messages in politicianese’ (Bossi, in Iacopini and Bianchi 1994: vii). 2001, Damian Tambini, Nationalism in Italian Politics: The Stories of the Northern League, 1980-2000 (Routledge Advances in European Politics), Routledge:
   • “The name is not unfamiliar,” Chance said, “but . . .” He shook his head. Not unfamiliar. You gotta love it when they speak politicianese. 1998, Harlan Coben, One False Move (Myron Bolitar series), Hodder & Stoughton, →ISBN, page 105:
   • Listening to their meetings is almost never pleasant: it generates boredom and sleepiness. Their language is contorted and ambiguous: it’s the so-called “politicianese”.[…]This is how politicianese (politichese in Italian) came about, almost a language in itself, made from indirect allusions, reassuring vagueness, technicalities difficult to understand.... 2000, Folco Zanobini, “The Politician and “Politicianese””, in What Do You Think of Italy?: Guide for Getting to Know Italians, Not for Tourists But for Humans, iUniverse.com, Inc., →ISBN, pages 66–68:
   • The statement said the governor will answer only “valid criticisms,” during the campaign. Political Notes doesn’t know what that means in French or Chinese, but in Politicianese it means: “There simply can’t be any valid criticism against our man so we ain’t answering nuttin’.” 1946 May 5, “Iowa Political Notes”, in The Cedar Rapids Gazette, volume 64, number 116, Cedar Rapids, Iowa, four, page 2:
   • She might speak fluent politicianese, but she never talked down to her correspondents. 2013, Jody Lynn Nye, Robert Asprin’s Dragons Run, New York, N.Y.: Ace Books, →ISBN:
   • This is fine, of course, but somewhat vague, illusory and politicianese. 1931 June 1, The Daily Messenger, Madisonville, Ky., page four:

Synonyms

politicese · politicianspeak · politicalspeak · politispeak · politicspeak · politicospeak · politicalese

Translations (2)

es politiqués (political jargon, language used by politicians) · it politichese (political jargon, language used by politicians)