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newspeak

noun, often capitalized
new·​speak | \ ˈnü-ˌspēk How to pronounce newspeak (audio) , ˈnyü-\

Definition of newspeak

: propagandistic language marked by euphemism, circumlocution, and the inversion of customary meanings
Newspeak Comes From 1984 Example Sentences Learn More about newspeak

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Newspeak Comes From 1984

The term "newspeak" was coined by George Orwell in his 1949 anti-utopian novel 1984. In Orwell's fictional totalitarian state, Newspeak was a language favored by the minions of Big Brother and, in Orwell's words, "designed to diminish the range of thought." Newspeak was characterized by the elimination or alteration of certain words, the substitution of one word for another, the interchangeability of parts of speech, and the creation of words for political purposes. The word has caught on in general use to refer to confusing or deceptive bureaucratic jargon.

Examples of newspeak in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

 George Orwell understood this concept of newspeak as did communist regimes and, apparently, as do the social justice warriors at CSU. — Jon Caldara, The Denver Post, "“The craziest, most insane, deranged, demented, and dumb list”: Jon Caldara on CSU’s language guide," 26 July 2019 Newspeak: ambiguous language, chiefly used to further political propoganda, the term newspeak is also the language of Oceania, a fictional totalitarian state ruled by the Party, in George Orwell’s world of Nineteen Eighty-Four. — Patrick May, The Mercury News, "A glossary for a capital in chaos: Memogate, deep state and much much more," 17 May 2017

First Known Use of newspeak

1949, in the meaning defined above

History and Etymology for newspeak

Newspeak, a language "designed to diminish the range of thought," in the novel 1984 (1949) by George Orwell

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More Definitions for newspeak

newspeak

noun
How to pronounce newspeak (audio)

English Language Learners Definition of newspeak

disapproving : speech or writing that uses words in a way that changes their meaning especially to persuade people to think a certain way

See the full definition for newspeak in the English Language Learners Dictionary

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