Doublespeak
noun /ˈdʌb.əl.spiːk/ — Deliberately ambiguous or evasive language.
Definition
Language that deliberately obscures, disguises, or distorts meaning — making something difficult to understand or making the unacceptable seem acceptable. Political and corporate speech frequently employs doublespeak to avoid direct accountability.
Beyond the definition
Doublespeak is the language of those who cannot say what they mean and will not say they cannot. It is a kind of linguistic fog — communicating not with light but with the appearance of it.
Origin & history
Inspired by George Orwell's 'doublethink' and 'newspeak' in '1984' (1949). The term emerged in the 1950s–70s, especially in critiques of political and corporate language.
Example sentences
Illustrative sentences for learning, not verified community posts or sourced quotations.
'Collateral damage' for civilian deaths, 'enhanced interrogation' for torture — military doublespeak that makes the unacceptable technical.
Corporate doublespeak: 'right-sizing' for firing people, 'sunset' for ending a program.
She had learned to translate doublespeak in real time — hearing what was said and simultaneously what was meant.
How to use it
This entry uses a noun. Follow the examples for articles and singular or plural forms; not every noun takes “a” or “an.”
Choose “Doublespeak” when the meaning fits your context: Language that deliberately obscures, disguises, or distorts meaning — making something difficult to understand or making the unacceptable seem acceptable. Political and corporate speech frequently employs doublespeak to avoid direct accountability.
Synonyms
euphemism, obfuscation, weasel words, newspeak
Antonyms
plain speech, directness, honest language
Related words
Doublespeak vs euphemism
Doublespeak uses language to deliberately obfuscate or hide the truth. A euphemism is used to make a harsh topic seem more pleasant or socially acceptable.
Compare this word
Word in the Wild
See how this word appears in life, language and stories.
Illustrative sentences and imagined stories for learning — not verified sightings, interviews, or sourced quotations.
Fictional scene
Obscuring Decisions Through Posture
One person is dominant and gesturing, while the other is clearly excluded and looking down.
The disconnect between the speaker's commanding gesture and the second person’s exclusion mirrors doublespeak, where meaning is obscured or distorted by authority figures to avoid direct accountability for their actions.
Image credit: Wordspun · AI-generated conceptual illustration
Questions about this word
What does "Doublespeak" mean?
Doublespeak is noun meaning: Deliberately ambiguous or evasive language.. Language that deliberately obscures, disguises, or distorts meaning — making something difficult to understand or making the unacceptable seem acceptable. Political and corporate speech frequently employs doublespeak to avoid direct accountability.
Where does the word "Doublespeak" come from?
Inspired by George Orwell's 'doublethink' and 'newspeak' in '1984' (1949). The term emerged in the 1950s–70s, especially in critiques of political and corporate language.