Slang Is Not Sloppy, It Is Social
Slang is very informal language used within a group. Linguists treat it as a marker of belonging rather than as bad English.
Slang is very informal vocabulary, typically used within a particular group. Linguists describe it functionally rather than critically: slang marks membership. Using the right slang shows you belong, which is why it changes so fast — once outsiders adopt a term, it stops doing its job and the group moves on. That churn is the mechanism, not a symptom of decline. The word's own origin is unknown, first recorded in the 1750s for the vocabulary of criminals.
- Very informal language. *Teenage slang.*
- Group vocabulary. *Military slang.*
- Jargon — technical vocabulary. *Legal jargon.*
- Cant — the older word for criminal slang. *Thieves' cant.*
- Unknown origin. *Recorded from the 1750s.*
Word forms
| Form | Word | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Noun | slang | Slang. |
| Adjective | slangy | Slangy. |
| Related | jargon | Jargon. |
| Related | cant | Cant. |
| Related | argot | Argot. |
- The book is full of period slang.Language.
- Slang marks group membership.Function.
- It changes once outsiders adopt it.Mechanism.
Slang and its neighbours
- Slang — informal vocabulary marking group membership
- Jargon — technical vocabulary of a profession
- Cant — historically the secret language of thieves
- Argot — the French term for the same idea
- Colloquialism — ordinary informal speech, not group-specific
Of unknown origin, first recorded in the 1750s for the special vocabulary of thieves and beggars.
Why does slang change so quickly?
Because its job is to mark group membership. Once outsiders adopt a term it no longer distinguishes anyone, so the group moves on.
What is the difference between slang and jargon?
Jargon is the technical vocabulary of a trade or profession; slang is informal vocabulary that signals social belonging.