sesquipedalian: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2formal, literary, humorous
Quick answer
What does “sesquipedalian” mean?
characterized by long words.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
characterized by long words; long-winded
pertaining to or given to the use of long words; also, literally, measuring a foot and a half
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning or usage. Slightly more common in British literary criticism.
Connotations
Both varieties carry the same connotations of pretentiousness or humorous pedantry.
Frequency
Very low frequency in both, but marginally higher in UK academic/literary texts.
Grammar
How to Use “sesquipedalian” in a Sentence
[adjective] + nounbe + [adjective]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “sesquipedalian” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- The professor's sesquipedalian digressions left the undergraduates baffled.
- His review was dismissed as mere sesquipedalian posturing.
American English
- The legal document's sesquipedalian language required a specialist to decipher.
- She has a fondness for delightfully sesquipedalian Victorian novels.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. Used critically: 'Avoid sesquipedalian jargon in the client report.'
Academic
Most common in literary/linguistic criticism: 'The author's sesquipedalian tendencies obscure his argument.'
Everyday
Virtually never used. Would be considered a deliberately 'sesquipedalian' choice itself.
Technical
Rare outside of metalinguistic discussion.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “sesquipedalian”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “sesquipedalian”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “sesquipedalian”
- Using it as a synonym for 'intelligent' or 'erudite' (it criticises style, not intellect).
- Misspelling: 'sesquipedalian', 'sesquipedalian'.
- Pronouncing it /ses-kwi-PED-al-ian/ (stress is on '-dei-').
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Primarily an adjective. A rare nominal use ('a sesquipedalian') exists to mean 'a person who uses long words'.
Rarely. It is almost always critical or humorous. Using it positively would be ironic or self-referential.
From Latin 'sesquipedalis', from 'sesqui-' (one and a half) + 'ped-' (foot). Coined by the Roman poet Horace.
No standard verb form exists. One might humorously coin 'to sesquipedalize'.
characterized by long words.
Sesquipedalian is usually formal, literary, humorous in register.
Sesquipedalian: in British English it is pronounced /ˌseskwɪpɪˈdeɪlɪən/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌseskwɪpɪˈdeɪliən/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “a sesquipedalian horror (humorous)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
SESQUI (one and a half) + PEDAL (foot) + IAN = 'one and a half feet long' → describes very long words.
Conceptual Metaphor
LENGTH IS COMPLEXITY (long words = complex/unnecessary communication)
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary connotation of 'sesquipedalian'?