big word

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.
   • 1860 October 19, The Mount Alexander Mail, page 6:

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

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

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

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

     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.

2. (plural) Boastful language.
   • 1888 July 13, The Petersberg Times, page 4:

     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.