polysyllabic

[ pol-ee-si-lab-ik ]

adjective

1. consisting of several, especially four or more, syllables, as a word.
2. characterized by such words, as a language, piece of writing, etc.

polysyllabic

/ ˌpɒlɪsɪˈlæbɪk /

adjective

1. consisting of more than two syllables

Derived Forms

• ˌpolysylˈlabically, adverb

Other Words From

• poly·syl·labi·cal·ly adverb
• hyper·poly·syl·labic adjective
• hyper·poly·syl·labi·cal·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of polysyllabic¹

1650–60; < Medieval Latin polysyllab ( us ) of many syllables (< Greek polysýllabos ) + -ic. See poly-, syllabic

Example Sentences

“In written English, especially when it’s a name that ends in s and it’s a polysyllabic name, you could add the apostrophe s, if you are really a stickler for the rules,” she said.

From Washington Post

This included highly wrought confessional lyrics, long polysyllabic song titles, and the conjunction of hard, even thrash-derived sounds like a screamed chorus with much softer instrumental passages.

From Salon

On “The Mars Volta,” out Sept. 16, the group — long known for its cryptic, polysyllabic lyrics and extended, transmogrifying song structures — has moved in its own eccentric ways toward the openness and concision of pop.

From New York Times

Energiewende is the stereotypically polysyllabic moniker Germany came up with for its ambitious national policy aimed at reducing carbon emissions 65 percent by 2030 compared with 1990 levels, and 88 percent by 2040.

From Washington Post

The diminutive “Cali” is one of the most commonly used substitutions for the polysyllabic state name.

From Los Angeles Times