initialese

I1N1I1T1I1A1L1E1S1E1

noun

Language that is rendered confusing by many initialisms.

Scrabble 10
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Meanings

nouninitialese (uncountable)
  1. informaluncountableLanguage that is rendered confusing by many initialisms.

    Let me assure you, sir, that I will, in the interests of APANUA, continue the ceaseless fight against senseless acronymity, initialese, indecipherable abbreviation.

    1965, Design news, volume 20, numbers 10-17

Origin

From initial + -ese.

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

initialese. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/initialese

MLA

“initialese.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/initialese. Accessed November 2, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “initialese,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/initialese.

Source: initialese on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.