oligosynthetic

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adjective

Using a relatively small number of morphemes which combine synthetically to form compound words.

OriginEnglish synthetic ← Ancient Greek ὀλῐ́γος (olĭ́gos) →
Scrabble 23
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Meanings

adjectiveoligosynthetic (comparative more oligosynthetic, superlative most oligosynthetic)

comparative more oligosynthetic · superlative most oligosynthetic

  1. human sciencesUsing a relatively small number of morphemes which combine synthetically to form compound words.

    Talking of which, the grammar of oligosynthetic languages is not always particularly well explained – the designers sometimes seem to have been too focused on the vocabulary.

    2021 April 10, Simon Davies, “Conlang Excursions 4: Saying a Lot with a Little”, in ESF Connected, archived from the original on 17 Apr 2024

Origin

  1. Ancient Greekὀλῐ́γος (olĭ́gos)
  2. Englisholigo-
  3. Englishsynthetic
  4. Englisholigosynthetic

From oligo- + synthetic.

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

oligosynthetic. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/oligosynthetic

MLA

“oligosynthetic.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/oligosynthetic. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “oligosynthetic,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/oligosynthetic.

Source: oligosynthetic on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.