Meanings
- uncountableThe type of language used on labels.
Sure, the label says in big, bold print: “NO TRANS FATS.” But “zero” trans fats aren’t always zero. It might mean 0.5 milligrams in labelese.
2009, Elizabeth Somer, “Secret 1: Eat Real 75% of the Time”, in Eat Your Way to Happiness, Harlequin, →ISBN, section “The 75% Solution”, page 182 more examples
A revision of the 1972 Care Labeling Rule, which became effective in January, makes the care information on clothing labels more consistent and succinct. To help you sort through the new labelese, the Federal Trade Commission offers a guide covering the rules and includes a glossary of standard terms manufacturers are encouraged to use.
1984 August, “Things to write for”, in Changing Times: The Kiplinger Magazine, volume 38, number 8, page 74Don’t despair, Fellow Computer User, in trying to read the labels - labelese can be fun. Clyde finally figured it out after studying labels for a long time. Labelese is a mixture of ancient Chinese text, mixed with Old Slavonic and interspersed with Old Celtic and written as if mortals could possibly interpret it. Clyde says forget it. Look for the FAT and SODIUM only. Ignore everything else.
2003, Clyde Cartwright, “Sector 002 - Dante’s Inferno”, in Clyde’s Guide to Computerese and Weight Loss, New York, N.Y.: Kroshka Books, →ISBN, pages 5–6
Origin
Cite this entry
labelese. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/labelese
“labelese.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/labelese. Accessed November 3, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “labelese,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/labelese.
Source: labelese on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.