supercalifragilisticexpialidocious

English

Etymology

First attested in the 1940s, it was made famous by its use in a song of the same title in the movie Mary Poppins (1964), by songwriters Robert B. Sherman and Richard M. Sherman. Likely formed from the following roots: super- + cali- + fragilistic- + expiali- + doc + -ious.

Pronunciation

  • (UK) IPA(key): /ˌsuːpə(ɹ)ˌkalɨˌfɹad͡ʒɨˌlɪstɪkˌɛkspiːˌælɨˈdəʊʃəs/
    • Audio (UK)(file)
  • (US) IPA(key): /ˌsupɚˌkæləˌfɹæd͡ʒəˌlɪstɪkˌɛkspiˌæləˈdoʊʃəs/, [ˌsupɚˌkʰælɪ̈ˌfɹæd͡ʒɪ̈ˌlɪstɪkˌɛkspiˌælɪ̈ˈdoʊ̯ʃəs]
    • Audio (US)(file)
  • Rhymes: -əʊʃəs

Adjective

supercalifragilisticexpialidocious (not comparable)

  1. (humorous) Fantastic, very wonderful
    • 1964 August 27, Julie Andrews as Mary Poppins, Mary Poppins:
      It's supercalifragilisticexpialidocious.
    • 2010 March 15, Mula, Rose Madeline, The Beautiful People and Other Aggravations, Gretna: Pelican Publishing, →ISBN, OL 24521586M, page 91:
      By comparison with the present transcribers, I'm sure my performance would be supercalifragilisticexpialidocious.
    • 2011, Allberry, Mary B., I Ain't Done Yet, Victoria: FriesenPress, →ISBN, OL 25422249M, page 91:
      This is a real biggie so pay attention—I still pinch myself occasionally to even believe I did this; it was supercalifragilisticexpialidocious.

Alternative forms

Usage notes

Often cited as an example of a very long word.

Derived terms

Translations

See also

References

“supercalifragilisticexpialidocious” (US) / “supercalifragilisticexpialidocious” (UK) in Oxford Dictionaries, Oxford University Press.

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