sesquipedalian

American  

[ses-kwi-pi-dey-lee-uhn, -deyl-yuhn] / ˌsɛs kwɪ pɪˈdeɪ li ən, -ˈdeɪl yən /

adjective

1. given to using long words.

2. (of a word) containing many syllables.

---

noun

1. a sesquipedalian word.

sesquipedalian British  

/ sɛsˈkwɪpədəl, ˌsɛskwɪpɪˈdeɪlɪən /

adjective

1. tending to use very long words

2. (of words or expressions) long and ponderous; polysyllabic

---

noun

1. a polysyllabic word

Other Word Forms

• sesquipedalianism noun
• sesquipedalism noun
• sesquipedality noun
• unsesquipedalian adjective

Etymology

Origin of sesquipedalian

First recorded in 1650–60; from Latin sesquipedālis “measuring a foot and a half ”( sesqui-, pedal ) + -ian

Example Sentences

For close to five hours his glamorous congregation are kept rapt with a medley of his greatest gospel hits, interspersed with prayer, speaking in tongues and a sesquipedalian sermon on the five foolish virgins.

From The Guardian

Wilbur performed his silly antics; Templeton raced around to gather sesquipedalian words; the geese clucked around and were generally a nuisance.

From Literature

It was, to use a philosopher’s sesquipedalian word, an act of supererogation.

From New York Times

By the way, this is sometimes known in more general circles as sesquipedalian loquaciousness.

From US News

Word length, for example, is something the author might think to change—sure, some people are more prone to “utilize sesquipedalian lexical items,” he jokes, but that can change with their audiences.

From Time