This list includes 51 Big words that start with T, from “tachyonic” to “truculence”. Many derive from Greek or Latin roots and serve formal writing, speeches, and precise vocabulary-building.
Big words that start with T are polysyllabic, high-register terms beginning with the letter T. For example, “tachyonic” reflects 20th-century physics jargon while “truculence” traces to Latin “truculentus”.
Below you’ll find the table with Word, Etymology, and Definition.
Word: The headword itself, so you can quickly locate, recognize, or quote each term in your writing.
Etymology: Brief origin details that show language of origin, root parts, and era to inform usage and nuance.
Definition: A concise, one-sentence meaning that helps you understand, compare, or use the word accurately in context.
Big words that start with T
| Word | Part of speech | Etymology | Syllables |
|---|---|---|---|
| tachyphylaxis | noun | Greek tachy ‘swift’ + phylaxis ‘protection’ | 5 |
| tachyonic | adjective | Greek tachy ‘swift’ + -on particle | 4 |
| taphonomy | noun | Greek taphos ‘burial’ + nomos ‘law’ | 4 |
| taciturnity | noun | Latin tacēre ‘be silent’ + -ity | 4 |
| tautological | adjective | Greek tautos ‘same’ + -logia ‘speech’ | 5 |
| teleology | noun | Greek telos ‘end’ + -logia ‘study’ | 5 |
| teleological | adjective | Greek telos ‘end’ + -logical | 6 |
| telekinesis | noun | Greek tele ‘far’ + kinesis ‘movement’ | 5 |
| temerity | noun | Latin temeritas ‘rashness’ | 4 |
| temerarious | adjective | Latin temerarius ‘rash’ | 5 |
| tendentious | adjective | Latin tendere ‘to stretch’ + -ous | 4 |
| tergiversation | noun | Latin tergiversari ‘turn one’s back’ | 5 |
| terminological | adjective | Latin terminus ‘boundary’ + -logical | 6 |
| teratology | noun | Greek teras ‘monster’ + -logia ‘study’ | 4 |
| teratogenic | adjective | Greek teras ‘monster’ + -genic ‘producing’ | 5 |
| theophany | noun | Greek theos ‘god’ + phainein ‘appear’ | 4 |
| theurgy | noun | Greek theos ‘god’ + ergon ‘work’ | 3 |
| theosophy | noun | Greek theos ‘god’ + sophia ‘wisdom’ | 4 |
| thermodynamics | noun | Greek therme ‘heat’ + dynamis ‘power’ | 5 |
| thermodynamic | adjective | Greek therme ‘heat’ + dynamis ‘power’ | 5 |
| thermolabile | adjective | Greek therme ‘heat’ + Latin labilis ‘liable’ | 4 |
| thermophilic | adjective | Greek therme ‘heat’ + philic ‘loving’ | 4 |
| thigmotaxis | noun | Greek thigmo ‘touch’ + taxis ‘arrangement’ | 4 |
| thaumaturgy | noun | Greek thaumatos ‘wonder’ + ergon ‘work’ | 4 |
| thaumaturgical | adjective | Greek thaumatos ‘wonder’ + -ical | 5 |
| theriomorphic | adjective | Greek therion ‘wild beast’ + morph ‘form’ | 5 |
| theriology | noun | Greek therion ‘wild beast’ + -logia ‘study’ | 5 |
| trichotillomania | noun | Greek tricho ‘hair’ + tillein ‘to pull’ + mania | 6 |
| triskaidekaphobia | noun | Greek triskaideka ‘thirteen’ + phobia ‘fear’ | 6 |
| transubstantiation | noun | Latin trans ‘across’ + substantia ‘substance’ | 6 |
| transmogrification | noun | origin uncertain; humorous alteration (16th c.) | 6 |
| transmutation | noun | Latin trans ‘across’ + mutare ‘change’ | 4 |
| transdisciplinary | adjective | Latin trans ‘across’ + disciplina ‘learning’ | 5 |
| transthoracic | adjective | Latin trans ‘across’ + thorax ‘chest’ | 4 |
| transcendental | adjective | Latin transcendere ‘to climb over’ | 4 |
| transcendentalism | noun | Latin transcendere ‘to climb over’ + -ism | 6 |
| transcendentally | adverb | Latin transcendere ‘to climb over’ + -ly | 5 |
| tautomerization | noun | Greek tautos ‘same’ + meros ‘part’ + -ization | 6 |
| tautomeric | adjective | Greek tautos ‘same’ + meros ‘part’ | 4 |
| tessellation | noun | Latin tessella ‘small square’ | 4 |
| thaumatrope | noun | Greek thaumatos ‘wonder’ + trepein ‘to turn’ | 4 |
| technocratic | adjective | Greek tekhnē ‘skill’ + kratos ‘power’ | 4 |
| technocracy | noun | Greek tekhnē ‘skill’ + kratos ‘power’ | 4 |
| tellurian | adjective | Latin tellus ‘earth’ + -ian | 4 |
| toponymy | noun | Greek topos ‘place’ + onoma ‘name’ | 4 |
| topographical | adjective | Greek topos ‘place’ + graphein ‘to write’ | 5 |
| toxicology | noun | Greek toxikon ‘poison’ + -logia ‘study’ | 5 |
| toxicological | adjective | Greek toxikon ‘poison’ + -logical | 6 |
| trichology | noun | Greek tricho ‘hair’ + -logia ‘study’ | 4 |
| troglodytic | adjective | Greek troglodytes ‘cave-dweller’ | 4 |
| truculence | noun | Latin truculentus ‘fierce’ | 3 |
Descriptions
tachyphylaxis
Rapid diminution of drug effect after repeated dosing, a pharmacological phenomenon.
tachyonic
Relating to hypothetical faster-than-light particles called tachyons in theoretical physics.
taphonomy
Study of processes that affect organic remains from death to discovery in archaeology and paleontology.
taciturnity
The quality of being habitually reserved, uncommunicative, or silent.
tautological
Redundant or circular expression that repeats the same idea in different words.
teleology
Philosophical account explaining phenomena by their purposes or goals.
teleological
Pertaining to explanations that appeal to purposes or final causes.
telekinesis
Purported psychic ability to move objects by mental intention.
temerity
Reckless boldness or audacity, often used in literary contexts.
temerarious
An archaic or literary adjective meaning recklessly bold or rash.
tendentious
Marked by a strong bias or partisan slant in argument or reporting.
tergiversation
Evasive, ambiguous behavior or shifting positions to avoid commitment.
terminological
Relating to the specialized vocabulary or terms used within a discipline.
teratology
Scientific study of developmental abnormalities and congenital malformations.
teratogenic
Capable of causing birth defects or developmental anomalies.
theophany
An appearance or manifestation of a deity to humans.
theurgy
Ritual practices aiming to invoke or collaborate with divine powers.
theosophy
Religious-philosophical system seeking direct knowledge of spiritual realities.
thermodynamics
Branch of physics studying heat, energy, and the laws governing them.
thermodynamic
Relating to the principles and behavior of heat and energy systems.
thermolabile
Chemically or biologically unstable when exposed to heat.
thermophilic
Organisms or reactions that prefer or thrive at high temperatures.
thigmotaxis
Directional movement of an organism in response to touch stimuli.
thaumaturgy
The working of miracles or wonder-working magic.
thaumaturgical
Pertaining to miraculous or awe-inspiring acts or their performance.
theriomorphic
Having the shape or attributes of an animal.
theriology
Scientific study of mammals; a branch of zoology.
trichotillomania
Impulse-control disorder characterized by recurrent, compulsive hair-pulling.
triskaidekaphobia
Irrational fear or avoidance of the number thirteen.
transubstantiation
Doctrinal term for bread and wine becoming Christ’s body and blood in some Christian traditions.
transmogrification
A fanciful or grotesque transformation, often used humorously or in fiction.
transmutation
Conversion of one substance or form into another, literal or metaphorical.
transdisciplinary
Involving integration of methods and concepts from multiple academic disciplines.
transthoracic
Performed through the chest wall, as in certain medical procedures.
transcendental
Beyond ordinary experience; in philosophy, relating to conditions of knowledge.
transcendentalism
19th-century philosophical and literary movement valuing intuition and nature.
transcendentally
In a manner that goes beyond ordinary experience or empirical limits.
tautomerization
Chemical process where isomers interconvert by relocation of atoms, forming tautomers.
tautomeric
Relating to tautomers—constitutional isomers that readily interconvert in solution.
tessellation
Pattern of shapes that fit together without gaps; used in mathematics, art, and design.
thaumatrope
Victorian spinning toy that blends two images, illustrating persistence of vision.
technocratic
Pertaining to governance or decision-making by technical experts.
technocracy
System of government where technical specialists hold authority.
tellurian
Literary adjective meaning earthly or relating to the planet Earth.
toponymy
Study of place names, their origins, meanings, and usage.
topographical
Relating to the physical features, contours, and mapping of land.
toxicology
Scientific study of poisons, toxic substances, and their effects on organisms.
toxicological
Relating to the study or effects of toxic substances.
trichology
Medical branch concerned with the scientific study of hair and scalp disorders.
troglodytic
Pertaining to cave-dwelling or used figuratively for primitive or reclusive behavior.
truculence
Aggressive ferocity or a bellicose, harsh manner.