polysynthetic

9.9

A language whose words contain many small parts that express whole ideas

adjective
/ˌpɒliˈsɪnθɛtɪk/

Specialized

: polisintético

Many indigenous languages of the Americas are described as polysynthetic by linguists.

Examples

The polysynthetic structure of Inuktitut allows for the expression of complex ideas in single words.
The Inuit language is considered polysynthetic.
Her research focused on the polysynthetic nature of certain Australian Aboriginal languages.
Many polysynthetic languages can express complex ideas in single words.
In a polysynthetic language, a single word can express thoughts that would require an entire sentence in English.
The Inuit language is known for its polysynthetic structure, allowing speakers to create long, descriptive words.
Many polysynthetic languages combine multiple morphemes into complex terms that convey rich meanings.

Synonyms

agglutinative

vspolysynthetic

Specialized

9.9

Making words by joining parts that each add one meaning

uses many more morphemes to build words that express whole sentences

synthetic

vspolysynthetic

Specialized

7.2

Of a language that makes words by joining parts to show meaning

focuses on far larger morpheme counts that can encode whole sentences

polymorphemic

vspolysynthetic

Specialized

9.6

A word made of two or more small parts that each have meaning

involves many morphemes and often creates words equal to sentences

How Synthetic

polysynthetic

Specialized

9.9

fusional

Specialized

9.6

agglutinative

Specialized

9.9

analytic

Specialized

6.8

isolating

Specialized

1 8.8

Surface Forms

polysynthetic positive

Morphology

polysynthetic = synthetic (semi-transparent) = poly + synthetic

The prefix 'poly-' clearly signals 'many', but the term's linguistic meaning is specialized and not fully predictable from the everyday meaning of 'synthetic'.

Etymology

The word polysynthetic comes from Greek parts poly- meaning 'many' and synthesis meaning 'putting together', as in photosynthesis. So a polysynthetic language 'puts many parts together' into single words that can express what would be a whole sentence in English.