15-letter words containing a, y, s
- semicylindrical — of, relating to, or having the shape of a semicylinder
- semidocumentary — a film or television programme that is fictional but includes many factual events or details
- semipornography — partial pornography; material that is almost pornographic
- septentrionally — northwards; in the direction of the north
- serial monogamy — a form of monogamy characterized by several successive, short-term marriages over the course of a lifetime.
- sesquicentenary — a hundred and fiftieth anniversary
- set by the ears — to cause disagreement or commotion
- seven-year itch — scabies.
- sexual equality — the same status, rights, and responsibilities for male and female people
- sharing economy — a system in which people rent, borrow, or share commodities, services, and resources owned by individuals, usually with the aid of online technology, in an effort to save money, cut costs, and reduce waste.
- shillyshallying — hesitation; vacillation
- shove-halfpenny — a shuffleboard game played with coins or brass disks that are pushed by the hand and thumb down a board toward a scoring pit.
- sibling rivalry — the feeling of competitiveness that often exists between brothers and sisters
- siege mentality — a state of mind whereby one believes that one is being constantly attacked, oppressed, or isolated.
- significatively — serving to signify.
- silent majority — the U.S. citizens who supported President Nixon's policies but who were not politically vocal, outspoken, or active: considered by him to constitute a majority.
- silviculturally — with reference to silviculture
- simple majority — less than half of the total votes cast but more than the minimum required to win, as when there are more than two candidates or choices.
- single-handedly — in a single-handed manner; single-handed.
- sinorespiratory — of, relating to, or affecting the paranasal sinuses and the respiratory tract.
- sleeping beauty — a beautiful princess, the heroine of a popular fairy tale, awakened from a charmed sleep by the kiss of the prince who is her true love.
- slumpflationary — of or relating to slumpflation
- small cranberry — See under cranberry (def 1).
- smoky mountains — Great Smoky Mountains
- snowy mountains — a mountain range in SE Australia, part of the Australian Alps: famous hydroelectric scheme
- so much/so many — You use so much and so many when you are saying that there is a definite limit to something but you are not saying what this limit is.
- soapbox oratory — public speaking typical of soapbox orators
- social dynamics — the study of social processes, especially social change.
- social mobility — mobility (def 2).
- social security — (usually initial capital letters) a program of old-age, unemployment, health, disability, and survivors insurance maintained by the U.S. federal government through compulsory payments by specific employer and employee groups.
- socialist party — a U.S. political party advocating socialism, formed about 1900 chiefly by former members of the Social Democratic Party and the Socialist Labor Party.
- society islands — a group of islands in the S Pacific: administratively part of French Polynesia; consists of the Windward Islands and the Leeward Islands; became a French protectorate in 1843 and a colony in 1880. Pop: 214 445 (2002). Area: 1595 sq km (616 sq miles)
- socioculturally — from a sociocultural point of view
- sodium ethylate — a white, hygroscopic powder, C 2 H 5 ONa, that is decomposed by water into sodium hydroxide and alcohol: used chiefly in organic synthesis.
- solipsistically — in a solipsistic manner
- somatic therapy — any of a group of treatments presumed to act on biological factors leading to mental illness.
- sophisticatedly — (of a person, ideas, tastes, manners, etc.) altered by education, experience, etc., so as to be worldly-wise; not naive: a sophisticated young socialite; the sophisticated eye of an experienced journalist.
- southeastwardly — toward the southeast
- southwestwardly — toward the southwest
- spanish bayonet — any of certain plants belonging to the genus Yucca, of the agave family, having narrow, spine-tipped leaves and a cluster of white flowers.
- special library — a library maintained by an organization, as a business, association, or government agency, to collect materials and provide information of special relevance to the work of the organization.
- spratly islands — a widely-scattered group of uninhabited islets and reefs in the S South China Sea, the subject of territorial claims wholly or in part by six neighbouring nations
- stalactitically — in a way that relates to, consists of, or is like stalactites
- stalagmitically — in a way that relates to, consists of, or is like stalagmites
- stand-up comedy — telling jokes to an audience
- staphylorrhaphy — repair of a cleft palate by means of staphyloplasty and suturing
- starting salary — an employee's initial rate of pay
- stationary wave — standing wave.
- statutory crime — a wrong punishable under a statute, rather than at common law.
- statutory order — a statute that applies further legislation to an existing act