Buzzwords come and go. Here is a list of common ones and what they usually mean.
Direct answer
Business buzzwords are trendy, often vague phrases used in workplaces. Many have a plain English equivalent. Knowing them helps you follow meetings, but clear writing and speaking usually works better than using them.
Meetings and planning
| Buzzword | Plain English |
|---|---|
| Align | Agree |
| Circle back | Return to this later |
| Take it offline | Discuss it separately |
| Parking lot | List of topics for later |
| Action item | A task |
| Deliverable | Something to hand over |
| Stakeholder | Anyone affected or interested |
| Buy-in | Support or agreement |
Strategy and growth
| Buzzword | Plain English |
|---|---|
| Leverage | Use |
| Scalable | Works when bigger |
| Pivot | Change direction |
| Value-add | Extra benefit |
| Move the needle | Make a real difference |
| Low-hanging fruit | Easy wins |
| North star | Main goal |
| Game changer | Something very important |
Work and time
| Buzzword | Plain English |
|---|---|
| Bandwidth | Capacity |
| Touch base | Quick check-in |
| Ping | Message |
| Loop in | Include |
| Heads-up | Warning |
| Ballpark | Rough estimate |
| EOD | End of day |
| ASAP | As soon as possible |
People and culture
| Buzzword | Plain English |
|---|---|
| Onboarding | Getting a new person started |
| Upskill | Learn new skills |
| Empower | Give authority |
| Culture fit | Whether you suit the team |
| Right-size | Reduce staff (be wary) |
| Synergy | Teams working together well |
Using them sensibly
- Use shared terms with your team if they save time.
- Avoid them with people outside the team.
- Write plain messages. See plain language writing.
More explanation: corporate jargon meaning and examples.
Where Teyro fits
Teyro's Corporate Jargon: Beginner course helps you decode office language and respond in plain, professional English. It's free to start.
The bottom line
Know the words, then say what you mean.
