polysyllabic

adjective

poly·​syl·​lab·​ic ˌpä-lē-sə-ˈla-bik 

1

: having more than one and usually more than three syllables

2

: characterized by words of many syllables

polysyllabically

ˌpä-lē-sə-ˈla-bi-k(ə-)lē 

adverb

Examples of polysyllabic in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

One distinctive feature of all Sino-Tibetan languages is that most words consist of a single syllable, like English it or book; long, polysyllabic words are unthinkable. —Jared Diamond, Discover Magazine, 11 Nov. 2019

The polysyllabic antiracist talk keeps proliferating. —Rodney Stevens, WSJ, 13 Jan. 2023

Seated in front of a screen, I am instructed to pronounce a series of very obscure, polysyllabic words. —Jeff Wheelwright, Discover Magazine, 3 Jan. 2019

Gilbert, for instance, enjoyed sending up the polysyllabic pomposity of the English oratory of his day. —Adam Gopnik, The New Yorker, 23 May 2022

Translated into clear and simple English, our polysyllabic poem turned out to be Row, row, row your boat ... —Richard Lederer, San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 Oct. 2021

Variants, mandates, quarantines and requirements -- who knew 2021 would be so polysyllabic? —Maureen O'Hare, CNN, 21 Aug. 2021

Her cousin Berg takes pleasure in spouting polysyllabic, pedantic words that belie his hulking form. —oregonlive, 11 Feb. 2020

In his pursuit to become prime minister, Mr. Johnson has adapted his old habits — the theatrics, the polysyllabic put-downs, the outlandish plans — for the Brexit era. —Benjamin Mueller, New York Times, 22 July 2019

Word History

Etymology

Medieval Latin polysyllabus, from Greek polysyllabos, from poly- + syllabē syllable

First Known Use

1774, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for polysyllabic

• monosyllabic
• disyllabic
• syllabic

Kids Definition

polysyllabic

adjective

poly·​syl·​lab·​ic ˌpäl-i-sə-ˈlab-ik 

: having many syllables

especially : having more than three syllables

polysyllabically

-ˈlab-i-k(ə-)lē 

adverb

polysyllable

ˈpäl-i-ˌsil-ə-bəl

ˌpäl-i-ˈsil-

noun