parlance

noun

par·​lance ˈpär-lən(t)s 

1

: speech

especially : formal debate or parley

… battle and not parlance should determine his right and title.

—John Speed

2

: manner or mode of speech : idiom

The company's computer system had, in computer parlance, "crashed."

Examples of parlance in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

In business parlance, intent could be reflected through transparently communicating the policies, systems and controls implemented for data privacy and ethics, and also by communicating any gaps and how they will be addressed. —Expert Panel®, Forbes, 25 Feb. 2025

The financial brokers who handle such trades have demanded that exporters hand over more cash toward settling up their losses — a margin call, in financial parlance. —Peter S. Goodman, New York Times, 22 Feb. 2025

Among the first steps in the research duo's reverse engineering process was purchasing nine receivers—known as FREs in Radio Ripple Control parlance—from different manufacturers of the devices. —Dan Goodin, Ars Technica, 23 Jan. 2025

His public shaming of Mike Williams for running the wrong route was three months ago, which can feel like years in Jets parlance. —Zack Rosenblatt, The Athletic, 5 Jan. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English parlaunce, borrowed from Anglo-French parlance, parlaunce "speech, gossip, debate," from parler "to speak, talk" + -aunce, -ance -ance — more at parley entry 2

Note: Parlance is much more amply attested in Anglo-French than in continental Old and Middle French, especially after ca. 1300. The Dictionnaire du moyen français has only marginal evidence for the word after 1350.

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Phrases Containing parlance

• in common parlance

Kids Definition

parlance

noun

par·​lance ˈpär-lən(t)s 

: manner of speech