hippopotomonstrosesquipedalianism

Noun

hippopotomonstrosesquipedalianism (countable and uncountable, plural hippopotomonstrosesquipedalianisms)

1. (humorous, uncountable) The use of extremely long words.
   • Or is his unflagging sesquipedalianism—which at times verges on hippopotomonstrosesquipedalianism (adj. pertaining to a very, very long word)—achieved without benefit of accessory?1992 February 10, David English, “Words to Live By”, in New York, volume 25, number 6, New York, NY: New York Media, →ISSN, →OCLC, page 5
   • I am a logolept, a linguophile, a MORPHEME ADDICT, and I say this entire thread is a floccinaucinihilipilification. And the degree of hippopotomonstrosesquipedalianism is astounding! May you all come down with a severe case of pneumonoultramicroscopicsilicovolcanoconiosis.1998 November 22, Morpheme Addict, “Goodbye, Callahan's”, in alt.callahans (Usenet)
2. (countable, humorous) An extremely long word.
   • Oh yes ... you also accused me of not using enough syllables; once via your beloved usenet, once via email. This should be sufficient justification for slipping all those hippopotomonstrosesquipedalianisms past you. Pity.1997 July 29, Clayton Counts, “incidentally”, in austin.general (Usenet)
   • My god only listens to prayers that are grammatically correct and contain hippopotomonstrosesquipedalianisms or, at least, obscuratanisms.2000 June 7, Agkistrodon, “The fat lady sings...”, in alt.religion.mormon (Usenet)