multisyllabic

USAGE SUMMARY

The word 'multisyllabic' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe words that have more than one syllable. For example: "The word 'xylophone' is a multisyllabic word."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Books

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

32 human-written examples

Mosaic rhyme, a type of multiple rhyme in which a single multisyllabic word is made to rhyme with two or more words, as in the end rhymes of the following two lines from W.S. Gilbert's song "The Modern Major-General": About binomial theorem I'm teeming with a lot o' news, With interesting facts about the square of the hypotenuse.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Then it would break and emerge to bob and swirl in a multisyllabic eddy.

The New Yorker

Then he sat down and performed the entire song, beginning with a long holler straight out of church, proceeding through falsetto, mumbling, throaty yells, and multisyllabic variations.

The New Yorker

As it drops in, calling on forty-five years of experience in multisyllabic descriptions, 'Oh, wow!' " This year, Lundquist and Raftery had just one buzzer beater on the tournament's first day; the shot was an airball, so their call was muted.

The New Yorker

These characters each mean something on their own; they are also combined with other characters to form hundreds of thousands of multisyllabic words.

The New York Times

The diseases, with multisyllabic names like lymphatic filariasis, visceral leishmaniasis and dracunculiasis, are almost never found in rich countries.

The New York Times - Health

Still, the hall — with communal tables shipped directly from Hamburg, Germany, and a long list of multisyllabic German beers — is a biergarten at heart.

The New York Times

However, in nearly every creek and lake, and throughout the oceans, there is one important group of multisyllabic microbes that the E.P.A. does not track, and until recently, most biologists heard and knew very little about — the choanoflagellates.

The New York Times - Science

That makes it doubly disappointing that the bills don't go far enough in bringing greater transparency and better oversight of everyone's favorite multisyllabic wonderment these days: derivatives.

The New York Times

But it's maddeningly difficult to prove conclusively that multisyllabic compounds are harming us.

The New York Times - Books

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

1 human-written examples

Kendrick Lamar is an absolute master at technical rhyming, multisyllabics, switching cadence and flow – and that's before you even get to the empowering and insightful lyrical themes of his music.

The Guardian - Music

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing the phonetic complexity of language, use "multisyllabic" to precisely indicate words with more than one syllable. This can be particularly useful in linguistic analysis or educational contexts.

Common error

Avoid using "multisyllabic" as a general synonym for "complex". While a "multisyllabic" word can be complex, complexity can also arise from intricate meanings or usage, irrespective of syllable count.

Linguistic Context

The adjective "multisyllabic" functions to describe words that contain more than one syllable. Ludwig confirms the grammatical correctness of the term, as demonstrated in its examples.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

53%

Books

14%

Music

6%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Science

6%

Arts

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "multisyllabic" is a grammatically sound adjective used to describe words with more than one syllable, as affirmed by Ludwig AI. It finds common usage across various contexts, especially in news media and books, and serves the purpose of providing phonetic descriptions of words. While the term is generally straightforward, it is important not to conflate it with general complexity. Alternatives like "polysyllabic" can be used, depending on the desired level of formality or specificity. As the examples provided by Ludwig illustrate, "multisyllabic" accurately labels words, enhancing the precision of linguistic and educational discussions.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

polysyllabic

Synonym of "multisyllabic", emphasizing the multiple syllables in a word.

having multiple syllables

Direct rephrasing of "multisyllabic", focusing on the characteristic of having more than one syllable.

word of many syllables

Similar to 'having multiple syllables' but adds a slightly more descriptive tone.

word containing multiple syllables

A more formal and descriptive way to express that a word has more than one syllable.

word with several syllables

Highlights the word itself and its composition of several syllables, rather than using a single descriptor.

syllable-rich word

Emphasizes the abundance of syllables within the word.

complex word

Describes a word with potentially multiple syllables, indicating a higher level of complexity.

long word

Refers to the length of the word, which is often correlated with the number of syllables.

multi-part word

Highlights the composition of a word from several parts, implying multiple syllables.

compound word

Indicates a word made up of multiple parts, which may or may not have multiple syllables.

FAQs

How can I use "multisyllabic" in a sentence?

You can use "multisyllabic" to describe words with more than one syllable. For example, "'Xylophone' is a "multisyllabic" word."

What are some synonyms for "multisyllabic"?

A close synonym for "multisyllabic" is "polysyllabic". Other related terms include "having multiple syllables" or "long word", depending on the context.

Is it correct to use "multisyllabic" in formal writing?

Yes, "multisyllabic" is a grammatically correct and appropriate term for formal writing when you need to specifically describe words with multiple syllables. Ludwig AI confirms this.

What is the difference between "multisyllabic" and "complex word"?

"Multisyllabic" refers specifically to the number of syllables in a word, whereas "complex word" refers to the word's structure, meaning, or usage. A "multisyllabic" word isn't necessarily a complex one, and vice versa.