polysyllabic

English

Pronunciation

	IPA
RP	ˌpɒl.ɪ.sɪˈlæb.ɪk
AusE	ˌpɔl.ɪ.sɪˈlæb.ɪk
GenAm	ˌpɑl.ɪ.sɪˈlæb.ɪk

• Rhymes: -æbɪk

Adjective

polysyllabic (not comparable)

1. (of a word) Having more than one syllable; having multiple or many syllables.

   "Antidisestablishmentarianism" definitely qualifies as a polysyllabic word.

   ‘Polysyllabic’ is a polysyllabic word.

2. (of spoken or written language) Characterized by or consisting of words having numerous syllables.

   I have a particularly off-putting predilection for the utilization of ponderously polysyllabic linguistic constructions.

Usage notes

Authoritative sources disagree concerning the precise number of syllables needed for a word to count as polysyllabic. The references cited below variously stipulate anywhere from more than one syllable to four or more. In general usage, a polysyllabic word is a word which is regarded as lengthy and polysyllabic writing or speech is often regarded as elaborate, overly lengthy, or excessively complex.

Synonyms

• (of a word): multisyllabic

Antonyms

• monosyllabic
• brachysyllabic

Related terms

• polysyllable
• polysyllabicism
• polysyllabicity
• polysyllabism

Translations

having more than one syllable

• Chinese:

  Mandarin: 多音節的 (cmn), 多音节的 (cmn) (duōyīnjié de)

• Czech: mnohoslabičný (cs) m
• Dutch: meerlettergrepig (nl)
• French: polysyllabique (fr)
• German: vielsilbig (de)
• Irish: ilsiollach (ga)

• Italian: plurisillabo (it), polisillabico (it), polisillabo (it)
• Japanese: 多音節 (ja) (たおんせつ, taonsetsu)
• Manx: yl-heelagh (gv)
• Russian: многосложный (ru) (mnogoslóžnyj)
• Scottish Gaelic: ioma-lideach (gd)
• Spanish: polisílabo (es)
• Swedish: flerstavig (sv)

Noun

polysyllabic (plural polysyllabics)

1. a word having more than one syllable

References

• “polysyllabic” in Dictionary.com Unabridged, v1.0.1, Lexico Publishing Group, 2006.
• "polysyllabic" in Encarta® World English Dictionary [North American Edition] © & (P)2007 Microsoft Corporation.
• "polysyllabic" in Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary © Cambridge University Press 2007.
• "polysyllabic" in Compact Oxford English Dictionary, © Oxford University Press, 2007.
• Random House Webster's Unabridged Electronic Dictionary, 1987-1996.
• Oxford English Dictionary, 2nd ed., 1989.