Argot is the specialized vocabulary used by a particular group of people, especially those in the same profession or with shared interests. Think of it as a kind of insider language: doctors have their medical argot full of technical terms, skateboarders have their own argot with words like “ollie” and “kickflip,” and computer programmers use an argot dense with abbreviations and technical phrases.

What makes argot different from regular vocabulary is that it develops naturally within a group and can sound like secret code to outsiders. When chefs talk about “mise en place” or “julienning,” they're using culinary argot. When your older sibling's theater friends discuss “blocking” and “stage left,” that's theatrical argot.

Today it describes any group's special vocabulary, and it still carries a hint of that insider feeling: argot is language that bonds a group together and can deliberately exclude others. When you join a new activity like robotics club or band, learning the argot helps you become part of that community. Every specialized hobby, sport, or profession develops its own argot over time.