Aegilops.
What is the Longest Word with Letters in Alphabetical Order?
The longest word in the English language whose letters are arranged in strict alphabetical order is Aegilops. This unique word, with eight letters, stands out as the prime example of such a linguistic curiosity. In words with letters in alphabetical order, each letter must appear at or after its alphabetical position relative to the preceding letter. For instance, in "accent," 'a' comes before 'c', which comes before the second 'c', and 'c' comes before 'e', 'n', and 't'.
Examples of Words with Alphabetical Letter Order
Beyond Aegilops, several other words exhibit this interesting property, though none are as long. These words showcase how various letter combinations can adhere to the alphabetical sequence rule.
Here is a selection of words, categorized by length, where the letters are in alphabetical order:
| Length | Word | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 8 | Aegilops | The longest known word in this category. |
| 7 | Beefily | A common seven-letter example. |
| 7 | Billowy | Another seven-letter word following the rule. |
| 6 | Abhors | Shorter examples with diverse letters. |
| 6 | Accent | |
| 6 | Access | |
| 6 | Almost | |
| 6 | Biopsy | |
| 6 | Bijoux | |
| 6 | Billow | |
| 6 | Chintz | |
| 6 | Effort |
Understanding "Alphabetical Order" in Words
When we talk about a word being in "alphabetical order," it specifically refers to the sequence of its letters from left to right. Each letter must be the same as, or appear later in the alphabet than, the letter immediately preceding it. For example:
- Aegilops: A < E < G < I < L < O < P < S
- Beefily: B < E (E=E) < F < I < L < Y
- Access: A < C (C=C) < E < S (S=S)
This linguistic challenge highlights the unique structures that can exist within the vast vocabulary of the English language.
