non-words
Made-up linguistic units
Non-words are letter sequences that look like they could be words but aren't—they follow the spelling patterns of a language without carrying meaning.
Linguists use non-words like blicket or flurp to test how people process language, since subjects can't rely on memory.
In casual use, non-word sometimes dismisses made-up terms or jargon as illegitimate: Incentivize is a non-word as far as I'm concerned.
Unintelligible speech or writing
- babbleIncoherent speech
- jargonSpecialized professional vocabulary
- gobbledygookPretentious unintelligible language
- mumbo-jumboMeaningless or confusing language
drivel · blather · twaddle · balderdash · hogwash · rubbish · prattle · claptrap
Newly created expression
- coinageInvented term or currency
- noncePresent purpose or occasion
- pseudowordMeaningless but pronounceable letter string
- ungrammaticalBreaking syntax rules
invented · made-up · fabricated · meaningless · undefined · illegitimate · malformation · misspelling
Invented meaningless language
- SeussChildren's author pseudonym
- snarkCutting, mocking commentary
- frabjousWhimsically wonderful
- galumphWalk heavily and clumsily
chortle · mimsy · brillig · slithy · gyre · gimble · supercalifragilistic · scrumdiddlyumptious
Unsolicited bulk messages
- botAutomated software agent
- filterPorous separation device
- gibberishUnintelligible speech or writing
- randomOccurring without pattern
generated · typo · autocorrect · garbled · corrupted · glitch · error · invalid
Meaningless but pronounceable letter string
- pronounceableAble to be spoken
- nonwordInvalid lexical item
- decodingExtracting meaning from symbols
- orthographicOf written representation
stimulus · foil · distractor · dyslexia · phonics · literacy · recognition · processing
gibberish
Unintelligible speech or writing
- babbleIncoherent speech
- jargonSpecialized professional vocabulary
- gobbledygookPretentious unintelligible language
mumbo-jumbo · drivel · blather · twaddle · balderdash · hogwash · rubbish · prattle · claptrap · piffle
neologism
Newly created expression
- coinageInvented term or currency
- noncePresent purpose or occasion
- pseudowordMeaningless but pronounceable letter string
ungrammatical · invented · made-up · fabricated · meaningless · undefined · illegitimate · malformation · misspelling · typo
Jabberwocky
Invented meaningless language
galumph · chortle · mimsy · brillig · slithy · gyre · gimble · supercalifragilistic · scrumdiddlyumptious · whimsy
spam
Unsolicited bulk messages
random · generated · typo · autocorrect · garbled · corrupted · glitch · error · invalid · unrecognized
pseudoword
Meaningless but pronounceable letter string
- pronounceableAble to be spoken
- nonwordInvalid lexical item
- decodingExtracting meaning from symbols
orthographic · stimulus · foil · distractor · dyslexia · phonics · literacy · recognition · processing · priming