pneumonoultramicroscopicsilicovolcanoconiosis

[ noo-muh-noh-uhl-truh-mahy-kruh-skop-ik-sil-i-koh-vol-key-noh-koh-nee-oh-sis, nyoo- ]

noun

1. an obscure term ostensibly referring to a lung disease caused by silica dust, sometimes cited as one of the longest words in the English language.

Word History and Origins

Origin of pneumonoultramicroscopicsilicovolcanoconiosis¹

< New Latin; pneumono-, ultramicroscopic ( def ), silica, volcano, pneumonoconiosis

Example Sentences

Pneumonoultramicroscopicsilicovolcanoconiosis is generally understood to be the longest word in the English language, with 45 letters.

From Fox News

His favorite word, pneumonoultramicroscopicsilicovolcanoconiosis, is “a disease caused by volcano ash,” he explained.

From Washington Post

A House of Commons spokeswoman said although Mr Bryan's use of pneumonoultramicroscopicsilicovolcanoconiosis would not appear in Hansard, it would appear on the British Youth Council website.

From BBC

Michael Bryan said the word pneumonoultramicroscopicsilicovolcanoconiosis - a lung disease - at a Youth Select Committee meeting on 14 July.

From BBC

The Oxford English Dictionary's longest word, at 43 letters, is pneumonoultramicroscopicsilicovolcanoconiosis, which refers to a lung disease caused by inhalation of silica dust.

From BBC