not a word
Keep your mouth
Not a word is a dismissive response to someone's use of an unfamiliar or nonstandard term: I looked up "irregardless" and the dictionary says it's not a word.
The phrase is often deployed prescriptively to reject slang, neologisms, or informal coinages, though linguists note that if people use and understand a term, it functions as a word regardless of official status.
- gibberishUnintelligible speech or writing
- nonsenseMeaningless words or actions
- word saladMeaningless verbal confusion
- meaninglessLacking significance or purpose
- jargonSpecialized professional vocabulary
babble · gobbledygook · mumbo-jumbo · lost in translation · made-up · fake · invented · neologism · typo · misspelling · spelling error · slang · coined · undefined · illegitimate · unrecognized · garbled · scrambled
not a wordspeaking up
Voicing your thoughts
speak up · speaking out · speak out · talk · talking
not a wordfull disclosure
Withholding no information
spilling the beans · blabbing · confessing · speaking freely · broadcasting
not a wordtell all
Reveal all secrets
spill the beans · blab · spread the word · go public · disclose