# English words with 10 different letters **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [September 12, 2008, 2:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/english-words-with-10-different-letters/463209 "2008-09-12T02:26:18Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Ignatz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/3be4f8/32.png) [@Ignatz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ignatz)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2008, 2:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/english-words-with-10-different-letters/463209/1 "2008-09-12T02:26:18Z")
What English-language 10-letter words have 10 DIFFERENT letters? I know of one that starts with “b” but heard years ago that there are two. Anyone know any? A store used to use the letter codes to mark the wholesale cost of items, for inventory purposes (B.C.-Before Computers). ---
**Author:** ![Sevastopol](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/cdc98d/32.png) [@Sevastopol](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sevastopol)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2008, 2:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/english-words-with-10-different-letters/463209/2 "2008-09-12T02:35:19Z")
Formidable thread. ---
**Author:** ![Cunctator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/43a26b/32.png) [@Cunctator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cunctator)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2008, 2:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/english-words-with-10-different-letters/463209/3 "2008-09-12T02:52:53Z")
My first thought was facetiously, but it’s 11 letters. ---
**Author:** ![Sevastopol](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/cdc98d/32.png) [@Sevastopol](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sevastopol)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2008, 2:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/english-words-with-10-different-letters/463209/4 "2008-09-12T02:57:19Z")
> [@Cunctator](#): > > My first thought was facetiously, but it’s 11 letters. All the vowels in sequence though, which is handy. ---
**Author:** ![BiblioCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ed8c4c/32.png) [@BiblioCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BiblioCat)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2008, 3:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/english-words-with-10-different-letters/463209/5 "2008-09-12T03:08:25Z")
> [@Ignatz](#): > > A store used to use the letter codes to mark the wholesale cost of items, for inventory purposes (B.C.-Before Computers). Not one word, but my SO said the words ‘CORN FLAKES’ were used for this purpose. Two words, but ten different letters. ---
**Author:** ![Antinor01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecae2f/32.png) [@Antinor01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Antinor01)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2008, 3:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/english-words-with-10-different-letters/463209/6 "2008-09-12T03:11:15Z")
Regulation. ---
**Author:** ![Duke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e8c25b/32.png) [@Duke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duke)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2008, 3:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/english-words-with-10-different-letters/463209/7 "2008-09-12T03:13:33Z")
Polygamist. ---
**Author:** ![Ignatz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/3be4f8/32.png) [@Ignatz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ignatz)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2008, 3:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/english-words-with-10-different-letters/463209/8 "2008-09-12T03:15:47Z")
Thanks. “Its” about time I posted something instead of lurking and snarking. Hint #1: The one that starts with “b” is a karmahadraya. Signing off until Friday evening. ---
**Author:** ![AHunter3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ahunter3/32/368_2.png) [@AHunter3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AHunter3)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2008, 3:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/english-words-with-10-different-letters/463209/9 "2008-09-12T03:18:59Z")
Dumbwaiter works. ---
**Author:** ![Sevastopol](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/cdc98d/32.png) [@Sevastopol](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sevastopol)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2008, 3:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/english-words-with-10-different-letters/463209/10 "2008-09-12T03:18:59Z")
Dearie me. ---
**Author:** ![AHunter3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ahunter3/32/368_2.png) [@AHunter3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AHunter3)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2008, 3:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/english-words-with-10-different-letters/463209/11 "2008-09-12T03:20:09Z")
> [@Sevastopol](#): > > **D** rawbri **d** ge. Bzzz-t! Nope ---
**Author:** ![Sevastopol](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/cdc98d/32.png) [@Sevastopol](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sevastopol)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2008, 3:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/english-words-with-10-different-letters/463209/12 "2008-09-12T03:22:05Z")
> [@AHunter3](#): > > Bzzz-t! > > Nope A reference to different cases would be weaseling, wouldn’t it. ---
**Author:** ![Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tapioca_Dextrin)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2008, 4:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/english-words-with-10-different-letters/463209/13 "2008-09-12T04:00:33Z")
> [@Ignatz](#): > > What English-language 10-letter words have 10 DIFFERENT letters? Could you give some background as to why you want this? Are you a blacksmith? ---
**Author:** ![Cunctator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/43a26b/32.png) [@Cunctator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cunctator)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2008, 4:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/english-words-with-10-different-letters/463209/14 "2008-09-12T04:16:26Z")
> [@Tapioca\_Dextrin](#): > > Could you give some background as to why you want this? Are you a blacksmith? No, he’s just being hyperbolic. ---
**Author:** ![Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tapioca_Dextrin)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2008, 4:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/english-words-with-10-different-letters/463209/15 "2008-09-12T04:28:01Z")
I configured that :rolleyes: I’m awestruck that there are so many examples, though. ---
**Author:** ![Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tapioca_Dextrin)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2008, 4:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/english-words-with-10-different-letters/463209/16 "2008-09-12T04:40:30Z")
> [@Tapioca\_Dextrin](#): > > I’m awestruck that there are so many examples, though. That’s nine :smack: I’m blathering . It’s enough to give me nightmares. If you’ll excuse me, I have to use the chamberpot (I ate too many of mother’s infamously bad fruitcakes). ---
**Author:** ![Kevbo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e47774/32.png) [@Kevbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kevbo)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2008, 5:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/english-words-with-10-different-letters/463209/17 "2008-09-12T05:33:14Z")
Call out the _fumigators_. One common reason for wanting such a word is to code prices. f=1 u=2, etc. The above word was used for the wholesale price on tags at the pharmacy I worked at in high school. I’ve seen similar schemes used in car lots. ---
**Author:** ![Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tapioca_Dextrin)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2008, 5:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/english-words-with-10-different-letters/463209/18 "2008-09-12T05:39:21Z")
> [@Kevbo](#): > > Call out the _fumigators_. If they don’t use defoliants on the upholstery, you might be overpaying them. ---
**Author:** ![bibliophage](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bibliophage/32/7615_2.png) [@bibliophage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bibliophage)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2008, 7:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/english-words-with-10-different-letters/463209/19 "2008-09-12T07:04:05Z")
Of ten-letter words of that sort, there are far too many to mention them all. You can even make sentences of them: Hysterical blockheads presumably discourage bankruptcy. The longest words of that type I know are _ambidextrously_ (14 letters) and _uncopyrightable_ (15 letters). ---
**Author:** ![quixotic78](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/3ab097/32.png) [@quixotic78](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/quixotic78)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2008, 7:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/english-words-with-10-different-letters/463209/20 "2008-09-12T07:48:02Z")
From [here](http://www.rinkworks.com/words/oddities.shtml): > [@](#): > > Dermatoglyphics, misconjugatedly, and uncopyrightable, each fifteen letters long, are the longest English words in which no letter appears more than once. Fourteen letter words with this property are ambidextrously, benzhydroxamic, hydromagnetics, hydropneumatic, pseudomythical, schizotrypanum, sulphogermanic, troublemakings, undiscoverably, and vesiculography. I should note that “ambidextrously” is the only one that doesn’t have a red squiggly line under it as I post this, though, so the rest aren’t particularly common. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/english-words-with-10-different-letters/463209.md?page=2)