PNEUMONOULTRAMICROSCOPICSILICOVOLCANOCONIOSIS ( also spelled PNEUMONOULTRAMICROSCOPICSILICOVOLCANOKONIOSIS ) = a lung disease caused by breathing in particles of siliceous volcanic dust. ♥NASSY
The longest word in the Oxford English Dictionaryis 'pneumonoultramicroscopicsilicovolcanoconiosis'. The word is forty-five letters long and describes a lung disease which is caused by the inhalation of silica dust. The type of silica dust that it refers to is usually found in volcanoes, hence the inclusion of 'volcano' towards the end of the word. As it is slightly impractical to say, the shorter word 'pneumoconiosis' is frequently used as a substitute, although 'pneumoconiosis' actually refers to lung disease caused by dust particles from talc, asbestos and kaolonite as well as silica dust.
Pneumonoultramicroscopicsilicovolcanoconiosis has been included in the Oxford English Dictionary since 1936 and is referred to by logologists (people that study word formations and patterns) as P45. The word was invented by Everett M Smith, head of the National Puzzlers League in 1935. It is now thought that it was originally intended to be a hoax, but nevertheless it is still with us today.
You had the longest medical and non-medical terms. I'll give the longest legal term, which is "honorificabulotudinitatipus". It simply means 'your honour'. Imagine the plight of advocates if that root word is made compulsory and has to be pronounced by them.
The longest word in the Oxford English Dictionaryis 'pneumonoultramicroscopicsilicovolcanoconiosis'. The word is forty-five letters long and describes a lung disease.
The longest non-medical term is antidisestablishmentarianism which means opposition to the movement to disestablish the Church. But it is only 28 letters long.
