parlance

noun

par·​lance ˈpär-lən(t)s 

1

: speech

especially : formal debate or parley

… battle and not parlance should determine his right and title.

—John Speed

2

: manner or mode of speech : idiom

The company's computer system had, in computer parlance, "crashed."

Examples of parlance in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

In military parlance, this usually translates to one attack on a specific target that might involve multiple weapons. —Christopher McFadden, Interesting Engineering, 8 Mar. 2026

In baseball parlance, Naylor looked runnerish. —Tyler Kepner, New York Times, 5 Mar. 2026

In negotiating parlance, that’s the most a buyer is willing to pay, and Paramount hasn’t shared its answer. —Brian Stelter, CNN Money, 17 Feb. 2026

Now the trick will be to get older females to show up as well (in movie parlance. —Pamela McClintock, HollywoodReporter, 15 Feb. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English parlaunce, borrowed from Anglo-French parlance, parlaunce "speech, gossip, debate," from parler "to speak, talk" + -aunce, -ance -ance — more at parley entry 2

Note: Parlance is much more amply attested in Anglo-French than in continental Old and Middle French, especially after ca. 1300. The Dictionnaire du moyen français has only marginal evidence for the word after 1350.

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Phrases Containing parlance

• in common parlance

Kids Definition

parlance

noun

par·​lance ˈpär-lən(t)s 

: manner of speech