antidisestablishmentarianism

American  

[an-tee-dis-uh-stab-lish-muhn-tair-ee-uh-niz-uhm, an-tahy-] / ˌæn tiˌdɪs əˌstæb lɪʃ mənˈtɛər i əˌnɪz əm, ˌæn taɪ- /

noun

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

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Usage

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.”

Etymology

Origin of antidisestablishmentarianism

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

Example Sentences

Poor old antidisestablishmentarianism has been left far behind.

From Time Magazine Archive

Rev. Arthur Michael Ramsey supports antidisestablishmentarianism, the hyperantidisestablishmentarianist, in considering the archbishop's favor of greater liberty for the church, may feel that the revered churchman thinks quasiantidisestablishmentarianistically.

From Time Magazine Archive

But Ramsey supports antidisestablishmentarianism, although he wants the church to have "greater liberty to order its own affairs."

From Time Magazine Archive