Gobbledygook refers to language that is meaningless or hard to understand, often characterized by jargon, convoluted phrases, or excessive complexity. It is typically used to criticize writing or speech that obscures meaning rather than clarifying it. The term was popularized during World War II by Maury Maverick, a U.S. Congressman, who sought to highlight the need for clear communication. Essentially, gobbledygook detracts from effective communication by making it unnecessarily complicated.