sesquipedalian

[ ses-kwi-pi-dey-lee-uhn, -deyl-yuhn ]

adjective

1. given to using long words.
2. (of a word) containing many syllables.

noun

1. a sesquipedalian word.

sesquipedalian

/ sɛsˈkwɪpədəl; ˌsɛskwɪpɪˈdeɪlɪən /

adjective

1. tending to use very long words
2. (of words or expressions) long and ponderous; polysyllabic

noun

1. a polysyllabic word

Derived Forms

• ˌsesquipeˈdalianism, noun

Other Words From

• ses·qui·pe·dal·i·ty [ses-kwi-pi-, dal, -i-tee], sesqui·pe·dali·an·ism ses·quip·e·dal·ism [ses-, kwip, -i-dl-iz-, uh, m, ‑kwi-, peed, -l-iz-, uh, m], noun
• unses·qui·pe·dali·an adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of sesquipedalian¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of sesquipedalian¹

C17: from Latin sēsquipedālis of a foot and a half (coined by Horace in Ars Poetica ), from sesqui- + pedālis of the foot, from pēs foot

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