plain language

US: /pleɪn ˈlæŋɡwɪdʒ/

Definition

Definition of plain language - Reverso English Dictionary

Noun

writingapproach to communication that promotes clear wording for every reader

The organization adopted plain language to improve how it explains benefits.
The legal team rewrote the contract in plain language.
Our guides use plain language so beginners aren’t confused.

Add a suggestion |

Feedback:

Expressions with plain language

💡 Discover popular phrases, idioms, collocations, or phrasal verbs. Click any expression to learn more, listen to its pronunciation, or save it to your favorites.

in plain language

adj.

expressed in a simple and clear manner

The instructions were written in plain language.

Expressions with plain

plain Jane

woman who is ordinary or unremarkable

Despite being a plain Jane she had a unique charm.

plain old

adj.

ordinary without any special features

I just want a plain old cup of coffee.

plain sailing

something simple or easy without difficulties

After the initial setup, the project was plain sailing.

plain vanilla

adj.

simple and without special features or qualities

This is just a plain vanilla version.

in plain English

adv.

using simple and clear language

He explained the process in plain English so everyone could understand.

plain for all to see

adj.

easily noticeable or obvious to everyone

The mistake was plain for all to see.

Expressions with language

colorful language

vivid or expressive words

The poet's colorful language painted a vivid picture in the reader's mind.

choice language

words that are very rude or offensive

He used choice language when he got angry.

salty language

offensive or vulgar words

The movie was full of salty language.

wooden language

unnatural, stiff or overly formal language

His speech was criticized for its wooden language that lacked emotion..

pick up a language

learn a language informally

She picked up the language while living abroad.

speak the same language

understand each other well

Despite their differences, they speak the same language at work.

talk the same language

understand each other well

Despite their differences, they talk the same language when it comes to values.

watch one's language

speak carefully to avoid being rude or offensive

Please watch your language; there are children sitting right behind you.

watch your language

be careful with the words you use

You should watch your language when speaking to elders.

someone's language doesn't bear repeating

exp.

language is too offensive to repeat

His language doesn't bear repeating in front of the kids.

Terms with plain language included in their meaning

💡 A powerful way to uncover related words, idioms, and expressions linked by the same idea — and explore meaning beyond exact word matches.

dirty realism

literature

literary style or movement showing ordinary life in plain language

en clair

adv.

plain language

using simple, clear language

pellucid

adj.

plain language

easy to understand or comprehend

View all translations of plain language

✨Click below to see the appropriate translations facing each meaning.

French:langage clair, ...
German:Einfache Sprache, ...
Italian:linguaggio semplice, ...
Spanish:lenguaje sencillo, ...
Portuguese:linguagem simples, ...
Chinese:简明语言, ...
Japanese:プレーンランゲージ, ...
Arabic:لُغَة وَاضِحَة, ...
Hebrew:שָׂפָה בְּהִירָה, ...
Russian:простой язык, ...
Ukrainian:проста мова, ...
Hindi:सरल भाषा, ...
Bengali:সহজ ভাষা, ...
Catalan:llenguatge planer, ...
Czech:srozumitelný jazyk, ...
Danish:klart sprog, ...
Dutch:eenvoudige taal, ...
Greek:απλή γλώσσα, ...
Hungarian:közérthető nyelv, ...
Khmer:ភាសាសាមញ្ញ, ...
Korean:알기 쉬운 언어, ...
Persian:زبان ساده, ...
Polish:język prosty, ...
Portuguese (BR):linguagem simples, ...
Romanian:limbaj clar, ...
Swedish:klarspråk, ...
Thai:ภาษาแบบเข้าใจง่าย, ...
Turkish:sade dil, ...
Vietnamese:ngôn ngữ rõ ràng, ...

Browse the dictionary entries starting with “p”:

Discover how Reverso redefines the dictionary

Go beyond “simple words”

100,000 expressions & idioms Understand any expression you come across: from corporate jargon like 💬 touch base or ↩️ circle back to everyday expressions such as 🌊 out of the blue or 🦆 lame duck, as well as idioms like 🍲 spill the beans and 🐎 hold your horses.

40,000 images When you search for a concrete noun or object, images help you grasp the meaning at a glance. Try searching for 🧵 puppytooth, 🎠 merry-go-round, ⚜️ fleur-de-lys, or 💤 bunk bed.

Informal language & slang Everyday conversations are packed with informal expressions and slang. Meanings are clearly tagged, so you'll always know when a word is casual. Look up hangry (😋 hungry + 😡 angry), 😎 rizz, 🕹️ noob, or 🔑 low-key.

Abbreviations & acronyms Quickly decode modern abbreviations and acronyms. Go from IDK to OMG in seconds and stay up to date with popular abbreviations such as 🐐 GOAT, 📜 tl;dr, 👀 POV, or 🖥️ AFK.

Regional usage (US / UK) Reverso highlights regional differences between American and British English. You’ll never have to wonder where a word is commonly used: try lift vs. elevator, courgette vs. zucchini, or popular British slang like dodgy or banter. What’s more, when you search for 'color', you’ll immediately see its British counterpart, 'colour'.

Get more than a simple definition

Translations for each meaning View translations alongside each meaning to see how a word is translated in each context. Simply toggle translations ON and choose among 25+ languages. You can also display the translation of definitions or examples into your native language to deepen your understanding.

Synonyms & related words by meaning View synonyms and related words for each meaning, not just for the word as a whole. This helps you choose the most accurate word for your context. Click the

icon to discover related terms: analogies, antonyms, common collocates, words with same roots, umbrella terms… Try with happening or hunch.

Multiple examples for every meaning Each meaning comes with three real-life examples to show you how the word is used in different contexts. Click the

icon next to the first example to see two additional options and learn to use new vocabulary naturally.

Go from understanding to mastery

Save words for later review Click the

icon to save words you want to revisit. You can also save a specific meaning by clicking on the

icon next to it. For example, you might want to save the word “table” as a verb, which means “to postpone”.

Practice with personalized flashcards Reverso automatically transforms your searches and saved words into personalized flashcards and quizzes, featuring high-quality audio and usage examples. This helps you transform terms you only recognize into words you actually use confidently.

Learn with Netflix, YouTube, and your favorite texts With Reverso Chrome extension, transform movies, TV shows, articles, or song lyrics into an interactive lesson. Look up words and expressions in one click on any website and learn with your favorite content.

Definition of plain language - Reverso English Dictionary

Noun

Expressions with plain language

Expressions with plain

Expressions with language

Terms related to plain language

Terms with plain language included in their meaning

View all translations of plain language

Discover how Reverso redefines the dictionary

Go beyond “simple words”

Get more than a simple definition

Go from understanding to mastery