federalese | Word of the Day

July 12, 2019 federalese [fed-er-uh-leez, -lees] noun 1. awkward, evasive, or pretentious prose said to characterize the publications and correspondence of U.S. federal bureaus. We Can Thank Alexander Hamilton For Giving Us These Words holidays What Word Is Your State Looking Up On Father's Day? WORD OF THE DAY federalese continued... QUOTES The C.D. program echoes the 1950s mania for bomb shelters, but the 1982 version incorporates a new idea. In federalese, it's called "crisis relocation," and, like bomb shelters, a lot of it is laughable. -- Michael Kramer, "The Fate of the Freeze," New York, June 14, 1982 ORIGIN Federalese is the youngest of an unlovely trio, dates to 1944, and has the narrowest reference, being restricted to the federal government. The equally ugly bureaucratese also dates to World War II (1942) and is broader in scope, including state and municipal government. The oldest and most comprehensive term, officialese, dates to 1884. In English the suffix -ese forms derivative adjectives and nouns from names of countries, their inhabitants, and their languages (such as Chinese, Faroese, Portuguese, Japanese, and Brooklynese, too). By analogy with this usage, -ese is used jocularly or disparagingly to form words designating the diction of people or institutions accused of writing in a dialect of their own invention (such as journalese, officialese, bureaucratese, and federalese). MORE FOR YOU 1 The 11 Worst Words And Phrases Your Boss Can Say Corporate-speak can really make the skin crawl or make us break out in a cold sweat. Here are 11 of the worst words and phrases you just don't want to hear your boss say. 2 Terms That Twitter And YouTube Created These sites have transformed the internet—and our lives as we know them, including our language. So, get internet-savvy with these words and expressions born from our new, digital normal. 3 When Did "Fat" Become An Insult? The word fat holds a complicated place in our society. As an adjective, it joins words like tall, hairy, fluffy, or bright. But, unlike those descriptors, fat isn't neutral. 4 Expressions For Epic Fails And Major Mistakes Epic fail isn't the only term for ridiculously crummy situations. The English language has all kinds of colorful sayings for when things go to s**t. Take a look. 5 What Kind Of Songs Get To Be Called "Country Music"? Past and present, country music—and what gets to be called country music—is far more complex than many realize. © 2019 Dictionary.com, LLC. ABOUT CONTACT You are subscribed to the Word of the Day as: matzom229@gmail.com Subscriber since: September 06, 2017 Unsubscribe Dictionary.com, LLC. 555 12th Street Suite 400 Oakland CA 94607 Manage your subscription Terms & Privacy