Buzzword
A buzzword is a trendy, fashionable, or jargon-heavy term that is often used to impress, persuade, or give an illusion of expertise or innovation, especially in technical, academic, or corporate contexts.
Key Characteristics
- Vague or overused: Often lacks a clear or consistent definition.
- Contextually inflated: Used more for effect than clarity.
- Signal over substance: Implies sophistication but may obscure the actual meaning.
Common Buzzword Examples (in science and medicine)
biomarker
personalized medicine
big data
artificial intelligence
neuroplasticity
disruption
connectivity anomalies
When Buzzwords Become Problematic
- Used to inflate the novelty or importance of otherwise weak or ordinary findings.
- Make peer review and comprehension harder by replacing precision with flair.
- Create a false impression of innovation without rigorous evidence.
Proper Use vs. Buzzword Abuse
Proper Use | Buzzword Abuse |
---|---|
Biomarkers of glioma grade based on validated metabolic signatures. | Next-gen biomarker landscape disrupting glioma paradigms. |
Using machine learning to classify MRI scans with 85% accuracy. | AI-powered precision diagnosis in brain connectomics. |
Summary
A buzzword is a word thatsounds smart
,sells well
, but oftensays little
.