antidisestablishmentarianism

[an-tee-dis-uh-stab-lish-muhn-tair-ee-uh-niz-uhm, an-tahy-]

noun

1. opposition to the withdrawal of state support or recognition from an established church, especially the Anglican Church in 19th-century England.

Word History and Origins

Origin of antidisestablishmentarianism¹

anti- + disestablishment ( def. ) + -arian + -ism

Example Sentences

If Bouton wasn’t a true believer in antidisestablishmentarianism, an it’s at least a word he could fully appreciate for its length and launch angle.

From Los Angeles Times

Every lexicographer I spoke to made clear their distaste for “word-lovers”, who in the dictionary world are regarded as the type of person liable to scrawl “fewer” on to supermarket signs reading “10 items or less”, or recite “antidisestablishmentarianism” to anyone who will listen.

From The Guardian

In a challenge to the stenographers’ skill, Hayes started his response to a question about how he’s improved his play by saying, “Well, before I answer that question, I’d like to say a few words: cattywampus, onomatopoeia, and antidisestablishmentarianism.”

From Slate

To keep one stenographer at the news conference on alert, Hayes started an answer to one question with the words “cattywampus, onomatopoeia and antidisestablishmentarianism.”

From Washington Times

Before I answer that question, I would like to say a few words, cattywampus, onomatopoeia and antidisestablishmentarianism.

From Time

When To Use

What does antidisestablishmentarianism mean?

Antidisestablishmentarianism is opposition to a breaking away from an established church.Antidisestablishmentarianism is used to specifically refer to people who opposed withdrawing support of the Anglican Church of England during the 1800s.Antidisestablishmentarianism is rarely, if ever, encountered because of its actual meaning. Instead, antidisestablishmentarianism is often cited as being one of the longest words in the English language, coming in at a staggering 28 letters. It is often considered a novelty word alongside other really long words, such as floccinaucinihilipilification and supercalifragilisticexpialidocious.Example: She played a joke on me and dared me to spell “antidisestablishmentarianism.”