hippopotomonstrosesquipedalian

An extension of sesquipedalian using a modified form of hippopotamus and Latin monstrum; the extensions almost certainly chosen with the intention of making the new construct autological.

• IPA^(key): /ˌhɪpəˌpɒtəˌmɒnstɹəˌsɛskwɪpɪˈdeɪlɪən/

• Audio (US, Kansas)

  (file)

hippopotomonstrosesquipedalian (comparative more hippopotomonstrosesquipedalian, superlative most hippopotomonstrosesquipedalian)

1. Of or pertaining to extremely long words.[1]
   • 1997, Steven George Krantz, A primer of mathematical writing:

     To indulge in hippopotomonstrosesquipedalian tergiversation is not to show your erudition: rather, it is to be superficial.

   • 2005, Greg Vaughn, Fred Holmes, Letters from Dad:

     And when it comes to language, short, simple words often have more impact and power than multisyllabic, hippopotomonstrosesquipedalian ones.

   • 2006, Richard Lederer, Word Wizard: Super Bloopers, Rich Reflections, and Other Acts of Word Magic:

     ...a forty-five-letter hippopotomonstrosesquipedalian word for black lung disease.

• sesquipedalian
• hippopotomonstrosesquipedaliophobia