Standard Lemma guide

polysyllabism

noun · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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1

noun

Meaning 1

The state or characteristic of having or using words containing multiple syllables, sometimes as a stage in the development of language.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: uncountable, usually

Topics: human-sciences, linguistics, sciences

Examples

  • 1936, Martin Joos, "Book Review: The Psycho-Biology of Language by George K. Zipf," Language, vol. 12, no. 3 (July/Sep), p. 202, Chinese polysyllabism is a sort of synthesis, or aggregation, or 'addition' of morphemes and their meanings.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

Polysyllabicism.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: uncountable, usually

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.