Law & Government
Rules, rights, courts, institutions, and public administration.
786 words
Download MarkdownSome words in this topic are A2–C2 — part of Pro. A1 words are always free.
Go ProA1 (4)
right
A1
/ɹaɪt/
Correct in opinion or fact; not mistaken.
M
S
stay
A1
/steɪ/
To remain in one place and not leave.
M
S
break
A1
/bɹeɪk/
To separate something into pieces, or to make it stop working, often suddenly.
M
S
rule
A1
/ɹuːl/
An instruction that says what you are or are not allowed to do.
M
S
A2 (22) Pro
police
A2
/pəˈliːs/
The official organization, and its members, whose job is to keep order, prevent crime, and make sure people obey the law.
M
S
death
A2
/dɛθ/
The end of life; the act or fact of dying.
M
S
state
A2
/ˈsteɪt/
The condition that someone or something is in at a particular time.
M
S
law
A2
/laː/
An official rule that everyone in a country or community must obey.
M
S
officer
A2
/ˈɒf.ə.sə/
A member of the police.
M
S
court
A2
/ˈkɔɹt/
A place where legal cases are heard and judged.
M
S
government
A2
/ˈɡʌv.ɚ(n).mənt/
The group of people who officially control and run a country.
M
S
seat
A2
/siːt/
Something you sit on, such as a chair or part of a chair.
M
S
lawyer
A2
/ˈlɔɪ.ɚ/
A person whose job is to advise people about the law and represent them in court.
M
S
decision
A2
/dɪˈsɪʒn̩/
A choice you make after thinking about something.
M
S
suit
A2
/sjuːt/
A set of matching clothes, usually a jacket with trousers or a skirt.
M
S
secretary
A2
/ˈsɛk.(ɹ)əˌtɛɹ.i/
a person who handles letters, phone calls, and office tasks for someone or an organization
M
S
official
A2
/əˈfɪʃəl/
Approved by or coming from a person in authority.
M
S
appear
A2
/əˈpɪɹ/
To seem to be a certain way.
M
S
license
A2
/ˈlaɪ.səns/
An official document that gives you permission to do or own something.
M
S
illegal
A2
/ɪˈli.ɡəl/
Not allowed by the law.
M
S
claim
A2
/kleɪm/
To say that something is true, often without proof.
M
S
lack
A2
/ˈlæk/
The state of not having something, or not having enough of it.
M
S
complaint
A2
/kəmˈpleɪnt/
A statement that you are unhappy or annoyed about something.
M
S
unmarried
A2
/ʌnˈmæɹ.id/
not married or related to the unmarried state
M
S
ID card
A2
M
S
police officer
A2
M
S
B1 (51) Pro
detective
B1
/dɪˈtɛktɪv/
A police officer whose job is to solve crimes by gathering evidence.
M
S
judge
B1
/d͡ʒʌd͡ʒ/
An official who controls a court of law and decides how criminals should be punished.
M
S
duty
B1
/ˈdjuː.ti/
Something you have to do because it is right or because the law or your job requires it.
M
S
witness
B1
/ˈwɪt.nəs/
To see something happen, especially an event or a crime.
M
S
vote
B1
/voʊt/
To formally show which person or choice you support in an election or decision.
M
S
sheriff
B1
/ˈʃɛɹɪf/
The main law-enforcement officer of a county, often elected.
M
S
finding
B1
/ˈfaɪndɪŋ/
Something discovered as a result of research or investigation.
M
S
responsibility
B1
/ɹɪˌspɑn.səˈbɪl.ə.ti/
A duty or task that you are expected to deal with.
M
S
legal
B1
/ˈli.ɡəl/
Allowed or required by law.
M
S
county
B1
/ˈkuːntɪ/
A region within a country or state, used for local government.
M
S
authority
B1
/əˈθɔɹədi/
The power or right to give orders and make people obey.
M
S
policy
B1
/ˈpɑ.lə.si/
An official plan or set of rules that a government, company, or person decides to follow.
M
S
bond
B1
/bɑnd/
To form a close emotional connection with someone.
M
S
inform
B1
/ɪnˈfɔɹm/
To tell someone about something officially or formally.
M
S
election
B1
/əˈlɛkʃ(ə)n/
An event in which people vote to choose a leader or representative.
M
S
officially
B1
/əˈfɪʃ.(ə.)li/
In a way that is approved by an authority or follows the rules.
M
S
ward
B1
/wɔɹd/
A section of a hospital for patients who need similar care.
M
S
session
B1
/ˈsɛʃən/
A period of time spent doing a particular activity.
M
S
appeal
B1
/əˈpil/
The quality of being attractive or interesting.
M
S
recover
B1
/ɹɪˈkʌvɚ/
To return to good health after being ill or injured.
M
S
require
B1
/ɹɪˈkwaɪɹ/
To need something.
M
S
permit
B1
/pɚˈmɪt/
To allow someone to do something.
M
S
guardian
B1
/ˈɡɑɹ.di.ən/
Someone who guards, watches over, or protects.
M
S
announcement
B1
/əˈnaʊns.mənt/
A public or official statement giving people information.
M
S
B2 (96) Pro
jury
B2
/ˈd͡ʒʊɹi/
A group of people chosen to listen to a court case and decide whether someone is guilty.
M
S
sue
B2
/sjuː/
To take legal action against someone in a court of law.
M
S
federal
B2
/ˈfɛdəɹəl/
Relating to the central national government, as opposed to state or local government.
M
S
deputy
B2
/ˈdɛpjəti/
A person whose rank is just below the leader and who can act for them.
M
S
testify
B2
/ˈtɛstɪfaɪ/
To give evidence in a court of law, usually under oath.
M
S
obey
B2
/oʊˈbeɪ/
To do what a person, rule, or law tells you to do.
M
S
testimony
B2
/ˈtɛstɪmoʊni/
A formal statement made by a witness in a court of law.
M
S
commission
B2
/kəˈmɪʃən/
An official group of people chosen to do a particular job or investigate something.
M
S
paperwork
B2
/ˈpeɪ.pɚˌwɝk/
The routine writing and handling of documents, forms, and reports.
M
S
oath
B2
/ˈoʊθ/
A serious, formal promise to do something or to tell the truth.
M
S
cabinet
B2
/ˈkæb.ɪ.nɪt/
A piece of furniture with shelves or drawers for storing or showing things.
M
S
fame
B2
/feɪm/
The state of being well known to many people.
M
S
penalty
B2
/ˈpɛn.əl.ti/
A punishment given for breaking a rule or law.
M
S
lobby
B2
/ˈlɑ.bi/
A large entrance area or waiting room inside a building.
M
S
parliament
B2
/ˈpɑɹ.lə.mənt/
The group of elected people who make a country's laws.
M
S
plead
B2
/pliːd/
To ask for something in a very emotional and urgent way.
M
S
voting
B2
/ˈvoʊtɪŋ/
The act or process of casting a vote in an election or decision.
M
S
submit
B2
/səbˈmɪt/
To give or send something to someone in authority for them to consider.
M
S
federation
B2
/ˌfed.əˈreɪ.ʃən/
a political union whose constituent states or regions retain some internal self-government
M
S
exhibit
B2
/ɪɡˈzɪbɪt/
To show something publicly, especially in a museum or gallery.
M
S
exposure
B2
/ɪkˈspoʊ.ʒɚ/
The state of being affected by something, such as a substance or influence.
M
S
lawsuit
B2
/ˈlɔˌs(j)ut/
A legal case that one person or group brings against another in a court of law.
M
S
recognition
B2
/ˌɹɛkəɡˈnɪʃ(ə)n/
The act of knowing someone or something because you have seen them before.
M
S
obligation
B2
/ˌɑ.blɪˈɡeɪ.ʃn̩/
Something you must do because of a law, promise, or moral duty.
M
S
C1 (113) Pro
attorney
C1
/əˈtɜɹni/
A lawyer; someone who advises people on legal matters and represents them in court.
M
S
sin
C1
/sɪn/
An act that breaks a religious or moral law.
M
S
warrant
C1
/ˈwɔɹənt/
An official document allowing police to search, seize, or arrest someone.
M
S
custody
C1
/ˈkʌstədiː/
The legal right and duty to care for someone, especially a child.
M
S
accused
C1
/əˈkjuzd/
The person charged with a crime in a court of law.
M
S
commissioner
C1
/kəˈmɪʃənɚ/
An official who heads a government department or public body, such as a police force.
M
S
verdict
C1
/ˈvɝ.dɪkt/
The decision a jury or judge makes about whether someone is guilty in a court case.
M
S
breach
C1
/bɹiːtʃ/
An act of breaking a law, rule, agreement, or promise.
M
S
plea
C1
/pliː/
An urgent, emotional request for help.
M
S
congressman
C1
/ˈkɑːŋ.ɡrəs.mən/
a male member of a congress, especially a member of the United States House of Representatives
M
S
conviction
C1
/kənˈvɪk.ʃən/
A strong, firmly held belief or opinion.
M
S
enforcement
C1
/ɪnˈfoɹsm(ə)nt/
The act of making people obey a law, rule, or agreement.
M
S
violation
C1
/ˌvaɪ.əˈleɪ.ʃən/
An act that breaks a law, agreement, or right.
M
S
sultan
C1
/ˈsʌltən/
a sovereign or ruler in certain Muslim countries, historically including the Ottoman Empire
M
S
lordship
C1
/ˈlɔɹd.ʃɪp/
The state or condition of being a lord.
M
S
rebellion
C1
/ɹɪˈbɛl.i.ən/
An organized, often armed, attempt to overthrow a government or ruler.
M
S
ruling
C1
/ˈɹuːlɪŋ/
An official decision made by a court or someone in authority.
M
S
magistrate
C1
/ˈmæd͡ʒ.ɪˌstɹeɪt/
An official who acts as a judge in a lower court, dealing with minor offences.
M
S
felony
C1
/ˈfɛləni/
A serious criminal offense, which, under United States federal law, is punishable by a term of imprisonment of not less than one year or by the death penalty in the most serious offenses.
M
S
petition
C1
/pəˈtɪʃ.ən/
A formal written request, usually signed by many people, asking an authority to do something.
M
S
jurisdiction
C1
/d͡ʒʊɹɪsˈdɪkʃən/
The official power to make legal decisions and apply the law.
M
S
amendment
C1
/əˈmɛndmənt/
A change or addition made to a law, document, or formal proposal.
M
S
courtyard
C1
/ˈkɔɹt.jɑɹd/
An area, open to the sky, partially or wholly surrounded by walls or buildings.
M
S
militia
C1
/məˈlɪʃə/
A group of ordinary citizens trained as soldiers to fight in an emergency, rather than professional troops.
M
S
C2 (221) Pro
counsel
C2
/ˈkaʊn.səl/
Advice or guidance, especially when serious or careful.
M
S
lex
C2
/lɛks/
a law or statute, especially one expressed by its Latin title or discussed in Roman law
M
S
dynamite
C2
/ˈdaɪ.nəˌmaɪt/
blow up with dynamite
M
S
precinct
C2
/ˈpriː.sɪŋkt/
in the United States, a local administrative district used for elections or policing
M
S
treason
C2
/ˈtɹiː.zən/
The crime of betraying one’s own country.
M
S
concussion
C2
/kənˈkʊʃən/
A violent collision or shock.
M
S
valet
C2
/ˈvæleɪ/
a person that will park and fetch cars for people using a business, restaurant or service
M
S
superstitious
C2
/ˌs(j)u.pɚˈstɪ.ʃəs/
showing ignorance of the laws of nature and faith in magic or chance
M
S
suspense
C2
/səˈspɛns/
an uncertain cognitive state
M
S
bey
C2
/beɪ/
historical: a governor, ruler, or other high official in the Ottoman Empire and some of its former territories
M
S
statute
C2
/ˈstæt͡ʃuːt/
enacted by a legislative body
M
S
oblivion
C2
/əˈblɪviːən/
total forgetfulness
M
S
perjury
C2
/ˈpɜː(ɹ)d͡ʒəɹi/
The deliberate giving of false or misleading testimony under oath.
M
S
etiquette
C2
/ˈɛt.ɪˌkɛt/
The manners or decent behaviour to be observed in social or professional life; conventional decorum; the ceremonial code of polite society.
M
S
scapegoat
C2
/ˈskeɪpˌɡoʊt/
Someone unfairly blamed or punished for some failure.
M
S
privy
C2
/ˈprɪvi/
sharing secret or private knowledge of something, normally followed by to
M
S
untrue
C2
/ʌnˈtɹuː/
not true to an obligation or trust
M
S
ancestral
C2
/ænˈsɛs.təɹ.əl/
inherited or inheritable by established rules (usually legal rules) of descent
M
S
eviction
C2
/ɪˈvɪk.ʃən/
the expulsion of someone, such as a tenant, from the possession of land by process of law
M
S
alderman
C2
/ˈɔldəɹmən/
a member of a municipal council, especially in a city or in a historical system of local government
M
S
rigor
C2
/ˈɹɪɡɚ/
excessive sternness
M
S
emir
C2
/əˈmɪr/
a ruler, prince, governor, or military commander in an Islamic country or polity
M
S
viceroy
C2
/ˈvaɪsˌrɔɪ/
a governor who rules a country, colony, or province as the representative of a monarch
M
S
corroborate
C2
/kəˈɹɑbəɹeɪ̯t/
to support with evidence, authority, or make more certain or confirm
M
S
C2+ (279) Pro
labyrinth
C2+
/ˈlæb.ə.ɹɪnθ/
A maze-like structure built by Daedalus in Knossos, containing the Minotaur.
M
S
litigation
C2+
/ˌlɪtɪˈɡeɪ̯ʃən/
The conduct of a lawsuit.
M
S
prelude
C2+
/ˈpɹeɪl(j)uːd/
An introductory or preliminary performance or event.
M
S
verboten
C2+
/ˌfəɹˈboʊt(ə)n/
excluded from use or mention
M
S
urbane
C2+
/ɜɹˈbeɪn/
Of a person (usually a man): having refined manners; courteous, polite, suave.
M
S
self-government
C2+
/ˈsɛlfˈgʌvɝnmənt/
The governance of a region by its own populace; autonomy.
M
S
fungible
C2+
/ˈfʌndʒɪbəl/
Any fungible item.
M
S
comity
C2+
/ˈkɒmɪti/
Courtesy and considerate behaviour towards others; social harmony.
M
S
defalcate
C2+
/ˈdɛfəɫkeɪt/
appropriate property entrusted to one's care fraudulently to one's own use
M
S
prepense
C2+
/pɹɪˈpɛns/
planned or considered beforehand; premeditated, chiefly in the legal phrase malice prepense
M
S
perquisition
C2+
/ˌpɝkwəˈzɪʃən/
A thorough inquiry or search.
M
S
authorization
C2+
/ˌɔθɚrɪˈzeɪʃən/
official permission or sanction to do something
M
S
authoritarian
C2+
/əˌθɔrɪˈtɛriən/
favouring strict obedience to authority over personal freedom
M
S
dormant
C2+
/ˈdɔrmənt/
temporarily inactive or in a state of suspended development
M
S
abeyant
C2+
/əˈbeɪənt/
temporarily suspended or in a state of latency
M
S
contentedness
C2+
/kənˈtɛntɪdnəs/
the state of being satisfied and at ease
M
S
crestfallenness
C2+
/ˈkrɛstˌfɔlənnəs/
the state of being dejected or dispirited
M
S
delightedness
C2+
/dɪˈlaɪtɪdnəs/
the state of being greatly pleased or joyful
M
S
vexation
C2+
/vɛkˈseɪʃən/
the state of being annoyed or frustrated; a cause of such
M
S
abasement
C2+
/əˈbeɪsmənt/
the act of humbling or degrading; a state of humiliation
M
S
aloneness
C2+
/əˈloʊnnəs/
the state of being alone; solitude
M
S
commotion
C2+
/kəˈmoʊʃən/
a state of confused and noisy disturbance
M
S
licit
C2+
/ˈlɪsɪt/
permitted by law; lawful
M
S
observance
C2+
/əbˈzɜrvəns/
the keeping of a law, custom, or ritual
M
S
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