pneumonoultramicroscopicsilicovolcanoconiosis

Meaning

Noun

• A disease of the lungs, allegedly caused by inhaling microscopic silicate particles originating from the eruption of a volcano.

Related

Broader meaning words

• pneumoconiosis
• silicosis

Origin

• Coined by Everett K Smith, President of the National Puzzlers' League, at their convention in 1935. From Ancient Greek πνεύμων ("lung") + Latin ultra ("beyond") + English microscopic + silico- + volcano + Ancient Greek κόνις ("dust") + English -osis, as an extension of the medical term pneumonoconiosis.