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.

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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

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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