General Vocabulary
High-utility words that do not belong cleanly to a narrower subject.
285 words
Download Markdown
All levels
Page 1 of 3
Some words in this topic are A2–C2 — part of Pro. A1 words are always free.
Go ProC2+ (195) Pro
knobble
C2+
/ˈnɒb.əl/
a small knob
M
S
ruth
C2+
/ruθ/
compassion or pity for another's suffering (archaic)
M
S
apex
C2+
/ˈeɪpɛks/
the highest point or culmination of something
M
S
carrion
C2+
/ˈkæriən/
the decaying flesh of dead animals
M
S
kismet
C2+
/ˈkɪzmɛt/
destiny or fate
M
S
beau
C2+
/boʊ/
a woman's male admirer or boyfriend; a dandy
M
S
crux
C2+
/krʌks/
the decisive or most important point at issue
M
S
dusk
C2+
/dʌsk/
the darker stage of twilight before night
M
S
pastime
C2+
/ˈpæstaɪm/
an activity done regularly for enjoyment
M
S
bloke
C2+
/bloʊk/
(British informal) a man; a fellow
M
S
chap
C2+
/tʃæp/
(British informal) a man or boy; a fellow
M
S
throe
C2+
/θroʊ/
a sharp pang or spasm, especially in struggle or agony
M
S
acme
C2+
/ˈækmi/
the highest point of achievement or perfection
M
S
changeling
C2+
/ˈtʃeɪndʒlɪŋ/
a child secretly substituted for another in folklore, esp. by fairies
M
S
dame
C2+
/deɪm/
a woman of rank or, in British usage, a titled honorific equal to a knight
M
S
despect
C2+
/dɪˈspɛkt/
contempt or disregard (archaic)
M
S
ellipsis
C2+
/ɪˈlɪpsɪs/
the omission of words, or the mark (…) indicating such omission
M
S
feck
C2+
/fɛk/
vigor or effectiveness; worth (Scots and Irish dialect)
M
S
hiatus
C2+
/haɪˈeɪtəs/
a pause or gap in a sequence, series, or activity
M
S
interpunct
C2+
/ˈɪntɚˌpʌŋkt/
a centered dot (·) used to separate words or mark a division
M
S
lingo
C2+
/ˈlɪŋɡoʊ/
the specialized vocabulary or jargon of a particular group
M
S
paragon
C2+
/ˈpærəˌɡɑn/
a model of excellence or perfection
M
S
amplitude
C2+
/ˈæmplɪtuːd/
the extent or magnitude of something; the range of a wave
M
S
applesauce
C2+
/ˈæpəlsɔːs/
a purée of stewed apples; slang for nonsense
M
S
benj
C2+
/bɛndʒ/
dialectal name for henbane or, in slang, marijuana used as an intoxicant
M
S
brat
C2+
/bræt/
a badly behaved or spoiled child
M
S
cockscomb
C2+
/ˈkɑksˌkoʊm/
the crest of a rooster; a jester's cap; a vain conceited man
M
S
curio
C2+
/ˈkjʊrioʊ/
a rare or unusual object valued as a curiosity
M
S
dayspring
C2+
/ˈdeɪˌsprɪŋ/
literary or archaic term for dawn or daybreak
M
S
lemma
C2+
/ˈlɛmə/
a subsidiary proposition proved as a step toward a theorem; a headword
M
S
ado
C2+
/əˈduː/
fuss, trouble, or commotion over something trivial
M
S
aphrodisia
C2+
/ˌæfrəˈdɪziə/
sexual desire or arousal
M
S
apocalypse
C2+
/əˈpɑkəlɪps/
a catastrophic event; a revelation of the end of the world
M
S
bairn
C2+
/bɛrn/
a child (chiefly Scottish and northern English)
M
S
camelopard
C2+
/kəˈmɛləˌpɑrd/
an archaic name for the giraffe
M
S
cantrip
C2+
/ˈkæntrɪp/
a magic spell or mischievous trick
M
S
compendium
C2+
/kəmˈpɛndiəm/
a concise but comprehensive summary of a subject
M
S
continuum
C2+
/kənˈtɪnjuəm/
a continuous sequence with no sharp divisions
M
S
crossroad
C2+
/ˈkrɔsˌroʊd/
a point where roads intersect; a critical turning point
M
S
curlicue
C2+
/ˈkɝlɪˌkju/
a fancy twist, curl, or flourish, as in writing
M
S
finale
C2+
/fɪˈnæli/
the closing section of a performance or event
M
S
genesis
C2+
/ˈdʒɛnəsɪs/
the origin or coming into being of something
M
S
mage
C2+
/meɪdʒ/
a magician or learned practitioner of magic
M
S
onset
C2+
/ˈɑnˌsɛt/
the beginning or start of something, often unpleasant
M
S
overview
C2+
/ˈoʊvərˌvju/
a general summary or survey of a subject
M
S
rep
C2+
/rɛp/
an informal term for a representative, reputation, or a repetition
M
S
shortcoming
C2+
/ˈʃɔrtˌkʌmɪŋ/
a fault or failure to meet a standard; a defect
M
S
zucchini
C2+
/zuˈkini/
a green summer squash, also called a courgette
M
S
adieu
C2+
/əˈdju/
goodbye; a farewell
M
S
admixture
C2+
/ædˈmɪkstʃɚ/
a mixture, or an additional ingredient mixed into something
M
S
alco
C2+
/ˈælkoʊ/
(slang) an alcoholic or heavy drinker
M
S
alehouse
C2+
/ˈeɪlˌhaʊs/
a tavern or establishment where ale is sold and drunk
M
S
antimodel
C2+
/ˌæntiˈmɑdəl/
a negative example showing how something should not be done
M
S
argot
C2+
/ˈɑrɡoʊ/
the specialized slang or jargon of a particular group
M
S
atlas
C2+
/ˈætləs/
a bound collection of maps
M
S
bah
C2+
/bɑ/
an exclamation expressing contempt or dismissal
M
S
battercake
C2+
/ˈbætɚˌkeɪk/
a thin cake fried from batter; a pancake (dialectal)
M
S
bayou
C2+
/ˈbaɪu/
a slow-moving marshy creek or backwater, typical of the southern US
M
S
bedlam
C2+
/ˈbɛdləm/
a scene of uproar and confusion
M
S
bint
C2+
/bɪnt/
a woman or girl (British slang, often derogatory)
M
S
bluejacket
C2+
/ˈbluˌdʒækɪt/
an enlisted sailor in the navy
M
S
bumbershoot
C2+
/ˈbʌmbɚˌʃut/
(US informal, dated) an umbrella
M
S
cad
C2+
/kæd/
a man who behaves dishonorably, especially toward women
M
S
certitude
C2+
/ˈsɝtɪˌtud/
absolute certainty or conviction
M
S
coistril
C2+
/ˈkɔɪstrəl/
a knave or base fellow; a groom or knight's attendant (archaic)
M
S
composure
C2+
/kəmˈpoʊʒɚ/
calm self-control, especially under stress
M
S
conspectus
C2+
/kənˈspɛktəs/
a general survey or summary of a subject
M
S
cosmos
C2+
/ˈkɑzmoʊs/
the universe regarded as an ordered, harmonious whole
M
S
denture
C2+
/ˈdɛntʃɚ/
a removable plate or frame holding artificial teeth
M
S
dick
C2+
/dɪk/
a detective (informal, dated slang)
M
S
disinterest
C2+
/dɪsˈɪntrəst/
lack of concern or interest; impartiality free from bias
M
S
flapjack
C2+
/ˈflæpdʒæk/
a pancake, or a British oat-and-syrup bar
M
S
grandeur
C2+
/ˈɡrændʒɚ/
splendor and impressiveness; magnificence
M
S
gumshoe
C2+
/ˈɡʌmˌʃu/
a detective, especially a private investigator
M
S
hodgepodge
C2+
/ˈhɑdʒˌpɑdʒ/
a confused or jumbled mixture of disparate things
M
S
memorandum
C2+
/ˌmɛməˈrændəm/
a written note or record, especially in an organization
M
S
merch
C2+
/mɜrtʃ/
merchandise, especially branded products sold to fans
M
S
milestone
C2+
/ˈmaɪlˌstoʊn/
a significant stage or event; a roadside marker of distance
M
S
miscarriage
C2+
/ˈmɪsˌkɛrɪdʒ/
the loss of a pregnancy; a failure or mismanagement of something
M
S
morn
C2+
/mɔrn/
morning (chiefly poetic or archaic)
M
S
nectarine
C2+
/ˈnɛktərin/
a smooth-skinned variety of peach
M
S
prof
C2+
/prɑf/
an informal term for a professor
M
S
setup
C2+
/ˈsɛtˌʌp/
the way something is arranged or organized; an arrangement or scheme
M
S
warlock
C2+
/ˈwɔrlɑk/
a man who practices witchcraft; a male sorcerer
M
S
whim
C2+
/wɪm/
a sudden, capricious desire or impulse
M
S
wreckage
C2+
/ˈrɛkɪdʒ/
the remains of something that has been badly damaged or destroyed
M
S
aa
C2+
/ˈɑːɑː/
basaltic lava with a rough, jagged, clinkery surface
M
S
accoucheuse
C2+
/ˌækuˈʃɜz/
a female midwife or woman who assists at childbirth
M
S
adaptitude
C2+
/əˈdæptɪˌtud/
aptitude or capacity for adapting; adaptability
M
S
adzooks
C2+
/ædˈzuks/
an archaic exclamation of surprise or annoyance
M
S
ague
C2+
/ˈeɪɡju/
a fever marked by recurring chills and shivering, often malarial
M
S
alkali
C2+
/ˈælkəˌlaɪ/
a soluble base that neutralizes acids, turning litmus blue
M
S
amanuensis
C2+
/əˌmænjuˈɛnsɪs/
a literary or artistic assistant who writes from dictation or copies manuscripts
M
S
anglewing
C2+
/ˈæŋɡəlˌwɪŋ/
a butterfly with jagged, angular wing margins, of the genus Polygonia
M
S
apophthegm
C2+
/ˈæpəˌθɛm/
a terse, pointed saying; a pithy maxim
M
S
arrowleaf
C2+
/ˈæroʊˌlif/
any of various plants having arrow-shaped leaves
M
S
More topics
Grammar & Function Words
395 words
Small words that connect, point, compare, negate, and structure sentences.
Numbers & Quantity
534 words
Counting, amounts, proportions, and the language of how much.
Space, Position & Direction
1546 words
Where things are, how they are arranged, and which way they face.
Time
752 words
Hours, dates, seasons, frequency, and the words for when things happen.
People & Society
1633 words
People, roles, communities, identity, and social life.
Family & Relationships
244 words
Parents, siblings, partners, friends, and the wider web of kin.