Definition, Meaning & Synonyms
sesquipedality
noun
/ˌsɛs.kwɪ.pɪˈdæl.ɪ.ti/
Definition
The quality of using long words; a tendency to be verbose or to employ overly lengthy words in speech or writing.
Examples
- The professor’s sesquipedality made his lectures difficult for students to follow.
- While some admired her vocabulary, others found her sesquipedality off-putting.
- Avoiding sesquipedality can often lead to clearer and more effective communication.
Meaning
Sesquipedality refers to the practice of using long and often obscure words, usually in an effort to sound more sophisticated or educated, but often resulting in communication that is less effective.
Synonyms
- verbosity
- grandiloquence
- long-windedness
