Skip to content
ontologydriven
Sign out

Dictionary

Words, grammatical forms and meanings linked to the ontology.

technobabble en · NOUN

Pronunciation

  • /ˈtɛknəʊbæbəl/ (Received-Pronunciation)
  • (US) audio
  • /ˈtɛknoʊbæbəl/ (US)

Etymology

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *teḱ- Proto-Indo-European *tetḱ- Proto-Indo-European *téḱ-sneh₂der. Ancient Greek τέχνη (tékhnē) Ancient Greek -ο- (-o-) Ancient Greek τεχνο- (tekhno-)der. English techno- English babble English technobabble From techno- + babble.

Meanings

  1. (uncountable) Technical or scientific language used to convey a false impression of meaningful technical or scientific content.
    • Destroying the sphere doesn’t work, so the Discovery crew hatches a plan, with some incoherent technobabble: They’re going to launch the time traveling suit and the sphere so far into the future that, somehow, this will save sentient life in the universe. 2019 March 29, Sopan Deb, “‘Star Trek: Discovery’ Season 2, Episode 11: Struggle Is Pointless”, in The New York Times, →ISSN:
    • 'Dimensional incursion? What kind of ludicrous technobabble is that supposed to—' ¶ Unexpectedly, he fell silent. 1997, Lawrence Miles, chapter 4, in Alien Bodies, page 84:
    • "And despite all the weird events the dialogue is naturalistic and light on technobabble", says Peter. "Such a relief after recent stories." 2006 November, Michael Pritchard, Doctor Who Magazine, number 376, page 45:
    • 'We are self-sufficient...We don't rely on clear skies and satellite access and not being deep underground, because of your wonderful technobabble devices.' 1998, Peter Anghelides, chapter 1, in Kursaal, page 6:
  2. (uncountable) From the point of view of the layperson, technical and scientific literature not understood.

Deriveds

treknobabble

Relateds

cryptobabble · jargon

Translations (7)

is tæknibull (fake technical language used in fiction) · de Technobabbel (fake technical language used in fiction) · no teknobabbel (fake technical language used in fiction) · it tecno bla-bla (fake technical language used in fiction) · de Technobrabbel (fake technical language used in fiction) · fr technobabillage (fake technical language used in fiction) · cs technoblábol (fake technical language used in fiction)