What is the longest word to start with the letter b?

Answer 1

In the English language, the longest non-scientific word that starts with the letter b is

• bureaucratization, 17 letters.

If we include scientific/medical words, there is

• ballistocardiograph, 19 letters.

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It has also been claimed that the longest scientific word that starts with 'b' is

• butylaminobenzyldimethylminoethanol, 35 letters.

However, this appears to be a specially concocted 'word' made up by joining together the five separate words Butyl Amino Benzyl Dimethyl Aminoethanol.

However, even if it is permissible and common practice to join together into one word the respective components of a particular compound, it is doubtful that any particular chemical actually has the name Butyl Amino Benzyl Dimethyl Aminoethanol, whether expressed as one long word or in shorter parts.

Of course, there is p-butylamino-benzyl-dimethylaminoethanol, (37 letters) but this latter 'word' starts with 'p' not 'b'.

In addition there are also the separate chemical compounds butyl amino benzyl (16 letters if joined together), and dimethyl aminoethanol, (starts with 'd'). But the question always remains, Does a single speciality 'compounded name' of a chemical compound actually constitute a new 'word' as such, or is the term simply a description which indicates the chemical 'nature' of the chemicals in a particular compound?

Answer 2

brachiosaurus