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Law & Government

Rules, rights, courts, institutions, and public administration.

Some words in this topic are A2–C2 — part of Pro. A1 words are always free.

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A1 (1)

A2 (10) Pro

B1 (14) Pro

judge B1
/d͡ʒʌd͡ʒ/ An official who controls a court of law and decides how criminals should be punished. Meaning Off Sound Off
duty B1
/ˈdjuː.ti/ Something you have to do because it is right or because the law or your job requires it. Meaning Off Sound Off
vote B1
/voʊt/ To formally show which person or choice you support in an election or decision. Meaning Off Sound Off
legal B1
/ˈli.ɡəl/ Allowed or required by law. Meaning Off Sound Off
authority B1
/əˈθɔɹədi/ The power or right to give orders and make people obey. Meaning Off Sound Off
policy B1
/ˈpɑ.lə.si/ An official plan or set of rules that a government, company, or person decides to follow. Meaning Off Sound Off
election B1
/ɪˈlɛkʃn/ An event in which people vote to choose a leader or representative. Meaning Off Sound Off
permit B1
/pɚˈmɪt/ To allow someone to do something. Meaning Off Sound Off
settlement B1
/ˈsɛ.təl.mənt/ An official agreement that ends a dispute, often without going to court. Meaning Off Sound Off
constitution B1
/ˌkɑn.stɪˈtu.ʃ(ə)n/ The set of basic laws and principles by which a country or organization is governed. Meaning Off Sound Off
regulation B1
/ˌɹɛɡjʊˈleɪʃən/ An official rule made by a government or organization. Meaning Off Sound Off
requirement B1
/ɹɪˈkwaɪɹmənt/ Something that you must have or do, especially by rule or law. Meaning Off Sound Off
copyright B1
/ˈkɑpiˌɹaɪt/ The legal right to control who can copy, publish, and sell a creative work. Meaning Off Sound Off
swear in B1
to admit someone formally to office by having them take an oath Phrasal verb Meaning Off Sound Off

B2 (9) Pro

C1 (13) Pro

warrant C1
/ˈwɔɹənt/ An official document allowing police to search, seize, or arrest someone. Meaning Off Sound Off
verdict C1
/ˈvɝ.dɪkt/ The decision a jury or judge makes about whether someone is guilty in a court case. Meaning Off Sound Off
ruling C1
/ˈɹuːlɪŋ/ An official decision made by a court or someone in authority. Meaning Off Sound Off
magistrate C1
/ˈmæd͡ʒ.ɪˌstɹeɪt/ An official who acts as a judge in a lower court, dealing with minor offences. Meaning Off Sound Off
jurisdiction C1
/d͡ʒʊɹɪsˈdɪkʃən/ The official power to make legal decisions and apply the law. Meaning Off Sound Off
patent C1
/ˈpætənt/ An official right giving an inventor sole control over making and selling an invention for a set period. Meaning Off Sound Off
notary C1
/ˈnoʊ.t̬ɚ.i/ a public official authorized to witness signatures, administer oaths, and certify that documents are genuine Meaning Off Sound Off
loophole C1
/ˈluːphoʊl/ an ambiguity, omission, or exception in a law or rule that allows its purpose to be avoided Meaning Off Sound Off
entitlement C1
/ənˈtaɪtəlmənt/ right granted by law or contract (especially a right to benefits) Meaning Off Sound Off
suffrage C1
/ˈsʌf.rɪdʒ/ the legal right to vote in political elections Meaning Off Sound Off
comply with C1
to act according to a rule, requirement, or request Prepositional verb Meaning Off Sound Off
conform to C1
to follow or meet a stated rule, standard, or expectation Prepositional verb Meaning Off Sound Off
preside over C1
to lead or hold authority over an organization or activity Prepositional verb Meaning Off Sound Off

C2 (30) Pro

coroner C2
/ˈkɔɹ.ə.nɚ/ A public official who presides over an inquest into unnatural deaths, and who may have (or historically had) additional powers such as investigating cases of treasure trove. Meaning Off Sound Off
eviction C2
/ɪˈvɪk.ʃən/ the expulsion of someone, such as a tenant, from the possession of land by process of law Meaning Off Sound Off
evict C2
/iˈvɪkt/ expel from one's property or force to move out by a legal process Meaning Off Sound Off
diocese C2
/ˈdaɪ.ə.sɪs/ a district under the pastoral and administrative authority of a bishop Meaning Off Sound Off
transgression C2
/trɑːnzˈɡrɛʃn/ A violation of a law, duty or commandment. Meaning Off Sound Off
coastguard C2
/ˈkoʊstɡɑːrd/ chiefly British, an official employed to watch coastal waters, help vessels in danger, and enforce maritime law Meaning Off Sound Off
intendant C2
/ɪnˈtɛndənt/ a public administrator or governor, especially an official in historical France, Spain, Portugal, or their colonies Meaning Off Sound Off
functionary C2
/ˈfʌŋ(k).ʃəˌnɛ.ri/ an official, especially one in a government or large organization, who performs prescribed duties Meaning Off Sound Off
laissez-faire C2
/ˌleɪ.zeɪˈfer/ an economic doctrine or policy favoring minimal government intervention in trade, industry, and markets Meaning Off Sound Off
sequestration C2
/ˌsɛkwəˈstreɪʃən/ law: the seizure, isolation, or placing in custody of property by legal authority Meaning Off Sound Off
droit C2
/dɹɔɪt/ a legal right, entitlement, or lawful claim Meaning Off Sound Off
usurpation C2
/ˌjuː.sɚˈpeɪ.ʃən/ the wrongful seizure and exercise of power, office, authority, or a right Meaning Off Sound Off
abrogation C2
/ˌæbrəˈɡeɪʃən/ the formal repeal, abolition, or annulment of a law, agreement, right, or custom Meaning Off Sound Off
chieftainship C2
/ˈtʃiːftənˌʃɪp/ the position, authority, or period of rule of a chieftain Meaning Off Sound Off
purveyance C2
/pɚˈveɪəns/ historical British law: the Crown's right to requisition provisions, transport, or other goods and services for royal use at fixed prices Meaning Off Sound Off
monism C2
/ˈmɑnɪzəm/ The doctrine that there is a single source of political authority, especially that the church is subordinate to the state or vice versa. Meaning Off Sound Off
malversation C2
/ˌmæl.vɚˈseɪ.ʃən/ corrupt or dishonest conduct in a public office, trust, or administrative role Meaning Off Sound Off
maladministration C2
/ˌmælədˌmɪnəˈstreɪʃən/ faulty, improper, or inefficient management, especially by a public authority Meaning Off Sound Off
cursitor C2
/ˈkɝsɪtɚ/ historical English law: a clerk in the Court of Chancery who prepared original writs issued as a matter of routine Meaning Off Sound Off
lastage C2
A duty exacted, in some fairs or markets, for the right to carry things where one will. Meaning Off Sound Off
amercement C2
/əˈmɝsmənt/ historical law: a monetary penalty whose amount was set at the discretion of a court or lord Meaning Off Sound Off
muniment C2
/ˈmjunəmənt/ a legal deed, charter, or other document preserved as evidence of a right or title Meaning Off Sound Off
probate C2
/ˈpɹoʊbeɪt/ the legal process of establishing that a deceased person's will is valid Meaning Off Sound Off
mistrial C2
/ˈmɪsˌtɹaɪəl/ a trial that is ended without a valid result because of a serious procedural problem or a jury that cannot agree Meaning Off Sound Off
See all 30

C2+ (18) Pro

edict C2+
/ˈidɪkt/ an official order or proclamation issued by an authority Meaning Off Sound Off
decree C2+
/dɪˈkri/ an official order having the force of law Meaning Off Sound Off
malfeasance C2+
/mælˈfizəns/ wrongdoing, especially misconduct by a public official Meaning Off Sound Off
bailiff C2+
/ˈbeɪlɪf/ an official who maintains order in a court or executes legal writs Meaning Off Sound Off
cabal C2+
/kəˈbæl/ a secret group plotting against a government or authority Meaning Off Sound Off
congress C2+
/ˈkɑŋɡrəs/ a formal assembly of representatives, or a coming together Meaning Off Sound Off
directive C2+
/dɪˈrɛktɪv/ an official instruction or order issued by an authority Meaning Off Sound Off
enfranchisement C2+
/ɛnˈfræntʃɪzmənt/ the granting of the right to vote or of civil liberties Meaning Off Sound Off
impeachment C2+
/ɪmˈpitʃmənt/ the formal charging of a public official with misconduct Meaning Off Sound Off
infraction C2+
/ɪnˈfrækʃən/ a breach or violation of a law, rule, or agreement Meaning Off Sound Off
junket C2+
/ˈdʒʌŋkɪt/ a trip taken by an official at public expense, often as a perk Meaning Off Sound Off
proclamation C2+
/ˌprɑkləˈmeɪʃən/ an official public announcement Meaning Off Sound Off
bylaw C2+
/ˈbaɪlɔ/ a rule made by an organization or local authority to regulate its affairs Meaning Off Sound Off
chancery C2+
/ˈtʃænsəri/ a court of equity or the public records office of a court Meaning Off Sound Off
constitutionist C2+
/ˌkɑnstəˈtuʃənɪst/ a supporter or adherent of a particular constitution or constitutional government Meaning Off Sound Off
ordinance C2+
/ˈɔrdɪnəns/ an authoritative rule or law, especially one made by a municipality Meaning Off Sound Off
summons C2+
/ˈsʌmənz/ an order to appear before a court or authority Meaning Off Sound Off
dicast C2+
/ˈdaɪˌkæst/ a citizen of ancient Athens chosen to serve as both judge and juror in a popular court Meaning Off Sound Off

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