English

Alternative forms

• hippopotomonstrosesquippedaliophobia (common misspelling, perhaps on purpose, to make the word even longer)

Noun

hippopotomonstrosesquipedaliophobia ‎(uncountable)

1. (humorous) The fear of long words.

   Ben suffers from hippopotomonstrosesquipedaliophobia so he seldom uses words of more than three syllables.‎

Usage notes

• It is unlikely that this 15-syllable contrivance is ever used purely for its meaning. The term sesquipedalophobia is recognized in formal writing, while the four-syllable phrase fear of long words is certainly worth considering.

Quotations

• 2002 April 19, anonymous, The Scotsman, page 13:

  However, we assume that despite the best endeavours of science, some phobias will always remain. These include paraskavedekatriaphobia, or fear of Friday the 13th. And hippopotomonstrosesquipedaliophobia, which is fear of long words.

• 2002 December 14, Chris Lloyd, The Northern Echo, page 10:

  Those who find this column troubling are suffering from hippopotomonstrosesquippedaliophobia- the fear of long words. Or, more likely, rupophobia - a fear of rubbish.

• 2005 September 30, D. Harlan Wilson, Pseudo-City, p183 (Raw Dog Screaming Press; ISBN 1933293020 (10), ISBN 978-1933293028 (13))

  Coincidentally there is a masochistic PCP with hippopotomonstrosesquippedaliophobia (fear of long words) curled up in an alleyway across the street. He has been whispering “Antidisestablishmentarianism” to himself over and over for two days now, experiencing up to one orgasm every three hours as a result of The Pain  […]

Synonyms

• sesquipedalophobia

Related terms

• sesquipedalian

Translations