Use of seven types of medical jargon by male and female primary care providers at a university health center

•On average, providers used just over four jargon terms per visit.•Just under half of distinct jargon terms were explained, with 78.16% of appointments including at least one instance of unexplained jargon.•The most frequently used types of jargon were technical terminology and medical vernacular.•Male providers used nearly 50% more jargon per minute, and more technical terminology, than female providers.