Hippopotomonstrosesquipedalian

Pronunciation

• IPA: en, /ËŒhɪpəˌpÉ’təˌmÉ’nstɹəˌsÉ›skwɪpɪˈdeɪlɪən/

Origin

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

Full definition of hippopotomonstrosesquipedalian

Adjective

1. Of or pertaining to extremely long words

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

Related terms

• sesquipedalian
• hippopotomonstrosesquipedaliophobia