Refine this word faster

Stronger alternatives Opposite tone Use in context Cross-language nuance

Sesquipedalianism

//ˌsɛskwəpəˈdeɪli.ənɪzm̩// noun

Definitions

Noun
  1. 1
    The practice of using long, sometimes obscure, words in speech or writing. uncountable

    "His voice here is a marvelous juxtaposition of cool elegance, unaffected hipness, unabashed sesquipedalianism ("the rich bouquet of exuded sebaceousness") and swell conversational slang (...)"

  2. 2
    A very long word. countable

Etymology

Surface form analyzed as sesquipedalian + -ism, from sesqui- (“one and a half”) + pedalian (“of the foot”). From Latin sēsquipedālis (“a foot and a half long; in metaphorical use, “of an unnatural length, huge, big””), from sēsqui (“one and a half times as great”) + pedālis (“foot”).

See also for "sesquipedalianism"

Synonyms Antonyms Rhymes Sentences Translate Word Type Pronunciation Word Forms

Next best steps

Find stronger synonymsSee usage examplesCheck pronunciation

Mini challenge

Want a quick game? Try Word Finder.