polysyllabic

C2 Topic:Describing Qualities

US /ˌpɔ.lɪ.sɪˈlæ.bɪk/ UK /ˌpɒ.lɪ.sɪˈlæ.bɪk/ See IPA manual

Freq #175295

Meanings

1

adj
Having more than one syllable, or many syllables.

"Antidisestablishmentarianism" is a famously polysyllabic word.
2

adj
Using long, complicated words.

His polysyllabic writing style made the essay hard to read.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

2 adj · using long, complicated words. sesquipedalian

More multisyllabic

Opposites

brachysyllabicmonosyllabic

Word family

Derived forms hyperpolysyllabicnonpolysyllabicpolysyllabically

Related forms polysyllabicismpolysyllabicitypolysyllabismpolysyllable

Appears in

Phrases (1)

See all

polysyllabic word
a word containing several syllables

Adjective + noun

Etymology

From poly- + syllabic.

Topics

Describing Qualities Language & Linguistics Word Formation & Derivatives

External links

# polysyllabic

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2
**Part of speech:** adj
**IPA (US):** /ˌpɔ.lɪ.sɪˈlæ.bɪk/
**IPA (UK):** /ˌpɒ.lɪ.sɪˈlæ.bɪk/
**Frequency rank:** 175295

## Meanings
1. Having more than one syllable, or many syllables.
2. Using long, complicated words.

## Examples
- "Antidisestablishmentarianism" is a famously polysyllabic word.
- His polysyllabic writing style made the essay hard to read.

## Synonyms
- multisyllabic

## Antonyms
- brachysyllabic
- monosyllabic

## Derived Forms
- hyperpolysyllabic
- nonpolysyllabic
- polysyllabically

## Related Forms
- polysyllabicism
- polysyllabicity
- polysyllabism
- polysyllable

## Etymology
From poly- + syllabic.

## AI Etymology
Polysyllabic is formed from poly- + syllabic. The analysis is mainly morphological: the modern form is built from the named base and affix. Current senses include having more than one syllable, or many syllables and using long, complicated words. The wider family includes derived forms such as hyperpolysyllabic, nonpolysyllabic, and polysyllabically; related words such as polysyllabicism, polysyllabicity, polysyllabism, and polysyllable.

## Topics
- Describing Qualities
- Language & Linguistics
- Word Formation & Derivatives

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