big word

plural big words

1. An erudite word, especially a Latinate or multisyllabic one; a word used by scholars, intellectuals, etc., but that is not commonly known outside of academia.

   The customer complained that the instructions were incomprehensible, and our office tried to provide remedial help, but when they complained that “supplementary” and “atmospheric” were big words, we knew that they were beyond help.

   4 more examples

   The object of the writer is to show that preachers need not use big words to teach the truth.

   1860 October 19, The Mount Alexander Mail, page 6

   `Naturally society frowns on such capers, and your experts have to think up big words to keep their jobs.'

   1965, James Holledge, What Makes a Call Girl?, London: Horwitz Publications, page 118

   Communication can often break down if the terminology is too technical, if a speaker uses “big words” for their own sake and lets the language become overly complex.

   1981, Harold Barrett, Practical Uses of Speech Communication, Holt, Rinehart, and Winston, page 173

   The sudden interjection of big words or complicated usages is a clear instance of the writer taking outside advice[.]

   2007, Binoo K. John, Entry from Backside Only, page 97

2. in pluralBoastful or exaggerated statements.

   big words from a little man

   2 more examples

   Then you said in your paper that there was a paucity of variety and the length of the programme made the latter part to say the least rather monotonous. Now those are big words for a little chap like me, but I say they are very unfair and very misleading.

   1888 July 13, The Petersberg Times, South Australia, page 4

   The big words were beginning to sound empty in his mouth.

   1958, Anthony Burgess, The Enemy in the Blanket (The Malayan Trilogy), published 1972, page 266

   Synonyms: big talk