What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
legalese
Example
The contract was written in legalese, making it difficult for the average person to understand. [legalese: noun]
Example
The lawyer used legalese to explain the complex legal terms to the client. [legalese: adjective]
lingo
Example
The IT department uses a lot of technical lingo that can be hard to understand. [lingo: noun]
Example
As a new employee, it took me a while to learn the company's lingo and acronyms. [lingo: noun]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Lingo is more commonly used than legalese in everyday language. Lingo is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while legalese is less common and is only used in legal contexts.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between legalese and lingo?
Legalese is typically associated with a formal and technical tone, while lingo can be used in both formal and informal contexts, depending on the profession or group using it.