Today’s word, floccinaucinihilipilification, is a noun describing the habit or act of considering something worthless. The unusual term gained wider attention in 2021 when Congress leader Shashi Tharoor – known for his penchant for little-used and hard-to-pronounce English words – engaged in friendly banter with then TRS working president KT Rama Rao over the complex names of Covid-19 medicines.
The Oxford English Dictionary describes floccinaucinihilipilification as “the action or habit of treating something as worthless”.
“On a lighter note, any idea who comes up with these unpronounceable drug names? – Posaconazole – Cresemba – Tocilzumab – Remdesivir – Liposomal Amphoterecin – Flavipiravir – Molnupiravir – Baricitinib. And the list goes on…” he said on May 21, 2022.
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Origin of the word
Floccinaucinihilipilification originated in 18th century England and is believed to have been created by schoolboys at Eton College. The word is a playful blend of several Latin terms – flocci, nauci, nihili and pili – all conveying the meaning of “little or no value”. The combined form literally refers to the act of judging something as insignificant. Its early use was largely humorous and intellectual, reflecting the linguistic creativity of scholars who enjoyed creating long, complicated words with precise meanings.
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At its core, floccinaucinihilipilification is a noun describing the habit or act of considering something worthless or insignificant. In everyday use, it serves as a sophisticated way to express dismissal, belittling, or understatement. Compared to simpler expressions such as “trivialize” or “ignore”, the word carries an air of professional wit along with linguistic elegance.
How to pronounce it
Pronunciation: flok-sih-now-sih-nih-hil-ih-pil-ih-fi-KAY-shun
Break it into pieces: floc-ci-nau-ci-nih-ili-pili-fi-cation
Highlight KAY near the conclusion
Say it slowly at first, then gradually speed up
How to use Floccinaucinihilipilification
Because of its length and rarity, floccinaucinihilipilification is generally used in formal, literary, or humorous contexts. It can describe opinions, analysis, or judgments in which something is considered unworthy of attention. Writers and speakers often use the word playfully to emphasize either the absurdity of underestimating something or their own knowledge of the language.
How to use floccinaucinihilipilification in a sentence
“The editor’s floccinaucinihilipilification of a young author’s debut novel stunned many, even as it sparked lively debate.”
“Her tendency to floccinaucinihilipilify made even minor achievements seem insignificant in her eyes.”
“Critics accused the review of floccinaucinihilipilification, dismissing decades of research as trivial without significant consideration.”
Synonyms and antonyms
Synonyms: Belittling, contempt, devaluation, trivialization, contempt
Antonyms: Appreciation, appreciation, respect, esteem, recognition
