Definify.com

Definition 2024


sesquipedalophobia

sesquipedalophobia

English

Noun

sesquipedalophobia (uncountable)

  1. Fear of long words.
    • 1983, Verbatim, Volume 10, page 25:
      But sesquipedalophobia ('hatred or fear of big words,' aptly enough) has prevailed, even among men of learning.
    • 2002 March 6, derm, “Re: Are You Somebody? by O'Faolaint”, in soc.culture.irish, Usenet:
      That hasn't helped my sesquipedalophobia one bit...
    • 2008, Abhijit Bhaduri, Married But Available, HarperCollins (2012), ISBN 9789350294826, unnumbered page:
      Ayesha was like a walking dictionary of phobias. She believed that I had sesquipedalophobia – the fear of long words.

See also