lengthier

Lengthier is the comparative form of the adjective lengthy, used to describe something that has more length in duration or extent. It can refer to time, distance, or the overall extent of content, such as a lengthier conversation, a lengthier journey, or a lengthier report. The term emphasizes an increased degree of length rather than a simple increment in one dimension.

In everyday language, longer is more common. Lengthier tends to carry a slightly more formal or precise tone and is frequently found in written or technical prose. It can imply not only greater length but also that something is more time-consuming or involved, as in a lengthier debate or a lengthier proofreading task. The adverbial form is uncommon; when speaking, people usually rely on phrases like “more lengthily” only in unusual contexts.

Etymology and related terms: lengthier stems from lengthy, which itself derives from length with the addition of the -y suffix and has since acquired the comparative -ier form. Related terms include length, lengthy, and lengthiness, as well as longer, which is a more general comparative for the adjective long. Examples of usage include “a lengthier journey” and “a lengthier explanation.”