polysyllable

American  

[pol-ee-sil-uh-buhl, pol-ee-sil-] / ˈpɒl iˌsɪl ə bəl, ˌpɒl iˈsɪl- /

noun

1. a polysyllabic word.

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polysyllable British  

/ ˈpɒlɪˌsɪləbəl /

noun

1. a word consisting of more than two syllables

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Etymology

Origin of polysyllable

First recorded in 1560–70; poly- + syllable

Example Sentences

The polysyllables fly fast, then go on to accelerate wildly in “Progressive House, Conservative Ligature” by the Los Angeles rapper Rhys Langston, from a coming album called “Grapefruit Radio.”

From New York Times

Virgil’s decorous Latin gets translated into a language which calls for eloquent Latinate polysyllables: the Sibyl flings the guard-dog Cerberus “a dumpling of soporific honey”.

From Economist

As a result Keaveny seemed at pains to demonstrate his own intellect, throwing in a polysyllable here and there and talking about "dissemination".

From The Guardian

Apart from keyboard player Chris Pemberton, who hails from Coventry, Grant has multiple Icelandic names to get through, dense with exotic polysyllables.

From The Guardian

They sing about all sorts of things — science, history, relationships, death — while pulling widely assorted styles and stray polysyllables into their new wave rock.

From New York Times