polysyllable: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2Formal, Academic, Technical
Quick answer
What does “polysyllable” mean?
A word that consists of three or more syllables.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A word that consists of three or more syllables.
In linguistics and prosody, any word with multiple syllables, often contrasted with monosyllables. It can imply complexity or formality in style.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning or usage. Spelling is identical.
Connotations
Identical in both varieties.
Frequency
Equally low-frequency and specialized in both UK and US English.
Grammar
How to Use “polysyllable” in a Sentence
The term 'polysyllable' is [often/primarily] used [as a noun/as a countable noun].Vocabulary
Collocations
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Virtually never used.
Academic
Used in linguistics, literary criticism, and language teaching to analyse style or vocabulary complexity.
Everyday
Extremely rare; a non-technical speaker would say 'a long word'.
Technical
Core term in phonology and morphology for word classification by syllable count.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “polysyllable”
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “polysyllable”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “polysyllable”
- Mispronouncing as /ˌpɒl.iˈsɪl.ə.bəl/ (stress on the third syllable). Correct stress is on the first syllable.
- Using it as an adjective (e.g., 'a polysyllable term'). The adjective is 'polysyllabic'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, 'polysyllable' has five syllables, making it an example of itself.
Traditionally, three or more syllables. A two-syllable word is a disyllable.
The adjective is 'polysyllabic', as in 'a polysyllabic word'.
Almost never. It is a technical term. In everyday talk, you would say 'a long word' or 'a word with lots of syllables'.
A word that consists of three or more syllables.
Polysyllable is usually formal, academic, technical in register.
Polysyllable: in British English it is pronounced /ˈpɒl.iˌsɪl.ə.bəl/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈpɑː.liˌsɪl.ə.bəl/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'POLY' meaning 'many' (like polygon) + 'SYLLABLE'. A polysyllable has many syllables.
Conceptual Metaphor
LENGTH IS COMPLEXITY (a polysyllable is a 'long' word, often perceived as more complex or formal).
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary part of speech for 'polysyllable'?