Listen here. I’ve rounded up some of the longest words in the English language and possible definitions for each. Think you can guess what they actually mean?
Electroencephalographically
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Done with disregard for the governing rule of law.
Done with disregard for the governing rule of law.
The stance taken by the liberal party in Old World England.
The stance taken by the liberal party in Old World England.
Done using an apparatus for detecting and recording brain waves.
Done using an apparatus for detecting and recording brain waves.
Presented by the school of philosophies surrounding atoms and electrons.
Presented by the school of philosophies surrounding atoms and electrons.
“Electroencephalographically” means using an apparatus for detecting and recording brain waves. It’s actually the longest worst in the Merriam-Webster Dictionary.
Polyphiloprogenitive
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Having the ability to produce offspring, or characterized by love of offspring.
Having the ability to produce offspring, or characterized by love of offspring.
Relating to the study of insects native to the northern region of South America.
Relating to the study of insects native to the northern region of South America.
Characterized as having many holes or orifices
Characterized as having many holes or orifices
Boisterous or obnoxious to an extreme extent.
Boisterous or obnoxious to an extreme extent.
“Polyphiloprogenitive” means having the ability to produce offspring or loving one’s offspring. It actually has the same definition of “progenitive,” but the “poly” can be added for extra “oomph”!
Xenotransplantation
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The act of sharply inhaling smoke or another foreign substance.
The act of sharply inhaling smoke or another foreign substance.
The act of cross-breeding specific plants.
The act of cross-breeding specific plants.
The act of interrupting the REM cycle.
The act of interrupting the REM cycle.
Transplantation of an organ, tissue, or cells between two different species
Transplantation of an organ, tissue, or cells between two different species
“Xenotransplantation” means the transplantation of an organ, tissue, or cells between two different species. It dates back to the ’60s and continues to be controversial.
Uncopyrightable
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Not able or allowed to be protected by copyright.
Not able or allowed to be protected by copyright.
Prohibited from being produced under the guise of copyright law.
Prohibited from being produced under the guise of copyright law.
Hard to read or intellectually ingest.
Hard to read or intellectually ingest.
Uninteresting and unworthy of copyright.
Uninteresting and unworthy of copyright.
“Uncopyrightable” means not able or allowed to be protected by copyright.
Incomprehensibilities
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Things that cannot be compared one another.
Things that cannot be compared one another.
Things that are severely unpalatable to the senses.
Things that are severely unpalatable to the senses.
Things that are impossible to comprehend.
Things that are impossible to comprehend.
Things that don’t have any substance or meaning.
Things that don’t have any substance or meaning.
“Incomprehensibilities” refers to things that are impossible to understand or comprehend…like taxes.
Knickknackatory
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Referring to the study of underwater hieroglyphics.
Referring to the study of underwater hieroglyphics.
A collection of knickknacks.
A collection of knickknacks.
Referring to the innermost layer of the Earth’s volcanic crust.
Referring to the innermost layer of the Earth’s volcanic crust.
Referring to a submarine’s rate of descent below sea level.
Referring to a submarine’s rate of descent below sea level.
“Knickknackatory” refers to a repository or collection of knickknacks, aka your Nana’s house.
Embourgeoisement
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A shift to bourgeois values and practices.
A shift to bourgeois values and practices.
The embezzlement of funds with the intent of gaining a higher status.
The embezzlement of funds with the intent of gaining a higher status.
The sociological study of the upper class.
The sociological study of the upper class.
A philosophical theory concerning generational wealth.
A philosophical theory concerning generational wealth.
“Embourgeoisement” means a shift to bourgeois values and practices, aka when you get guac in your burrito even though you know it costs extra.
Kakorrhaphiophobia
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A fear of closely clustered holes.
A fear of closely clustered holes.
A fear of sticky substances.
A fear of sticky substances.
“Kakorrhaphiophobia” means an abnormal fear of failure. Something we can all relate to at least a little bit, right?
Agathokakological
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Pertaining to the study of Gothic architecture.
Pertaining to the study of Gothic architecture.
Possessing a love of facts and knowledge.
Possessing a love of facts and knowledge.
Belonging to a certain strain of viral bacteria.
Belonging to a certain strain of viral bacteria.
Composed of both good and evil.
Composed of both good and evil.
“Agathokakological” means composed of both good and evil. It’s thought to be first used by a poet in the 18th century.
