Dictionary

hippopotomonstrosesquipedalian en · ADJ

Pronunciation

• /ˌhɪpəˌpɒtəˌmɒnstɹəˌsɛskwɪpɪˈdeɪlɪən/
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Etymology

An extension of sesquipedalian using a modified form of hippopotamus and Latin monstrum, with the extensions almost certainly chosen with the intention of making the new construct autological.

Meanings

1. Of or pertaining to extremely long words.
   • To indulge in hippopotomonstrosesquipedalian tergiversation is not to show your erudition: rather, it is to be superficial. 1997, Steven George Krantz, A primer of mathematical writing:
   • […] a forty-five-letter hippopotomonstrosesquipedalian word for black lung disease. 2006, Richard Lederer, Word Wizard: Super Bloopers, Rich Reflections, and Other Acts of Word Magic:
   • And when it comes to language, short, simple words often have more impact and power than multisyllabic, hippopotomonstrosesquipedalian ones. 2005, Greg Vaughn, Fred Holmes, Letters from Dad:

Forms

Relateds

sesquipedalian · hippopotomonstrosesquipedaliophobia