PNEUMONOULTRAMICROSCOPIC-
SILICOVOLCANICONIOSIS

by Matt H
(Harlow)

n. a lung disease caused by the build up of toxic volcanic ash.

Why I Think It's A Cool Word

Unofficially, it's the longest word ever!!

Hi Matt - This is one of those words that most professional wordsmiths would politely describe as 'artificial'. It is technically meaningful, but was created 'on purpose' to be the longest word in an English dictionary (which, to the best of my knowledge, it still is).

Although the word itself is contrived, it does refer to a genuine medical condition experienced by workers involved in abrasive work, such as drilling or sawing.

In the real world, doctors refer to this condition as silicosis. Otherwise, they wouldn't have any time left to treat it ;-)