Social Issues & Human Rights

Inequality, rights, welfare, discrimination, and public concerns.

71 words

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

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A2 (1) Pro

/ˈfɹi.dəm/ The state of being free and able to do what you want. M S

B1 (10) Pro

/ˈd͡ʒɐs.tɪs/ Fair treatment of people, especially by the law. M S

/ˈsɪvəl/ Polite and reasonable, even when you disagree with someone. M S

/ˈpɹoʊ.tɛst/ A strong public expression of disagreement or disapproval. M S

/ˈpɑːvɚti/ The state of being very poor and having little money. M S

/ˌlɪbəˈɹeɪʃən/ The act of setting someone or something free, or the state of being free. M S

/ɪˈkwɑ.lɪ.ti/ The state of everyone being treated the same and having the same rights. M S

/maɪˈnoɹ.ɪ.ti/ The smaller part of a group; less than half. M S

/dɪsəˈbɪlɪti/ A physical or mental condition that limits what a person can do. M S

/əˈpɹɛʃən/ The act of treating people cruelly and unfairly over a long time, or the state of being treated this way. M S

discrimination B1

/dɪˌskɹɪm.əˈneɪʃən/ Unfair treatment of a person or group because of their race, sex, age, or other quality. M S

B2 (12) Pro

/ˈpɹɪv.ɪ.lɪd͡ʒ/ A special right or advantage that only some people have. M S

/ˈwɛlˌfɛɚ/ The health, happiness, and general well-being of a person or group. M S

/ˈɹɛfjʊd͡ʒiː/ A person who has been forced to leave their country because of war, persecution, or disaster. M S

/ˈɹeɪsɪzm̩/ Unfair treatment of people because they belong to a particular race. M S

/slʌm/ a crowded urban area characterized by severely inadequate housing, poverty, and poor living conditions M S

/ˈbɪɡətri/ intolerant prejudice against people because of their identity, beliefs, or membership in a group M S

infringement B2

/ɪnˈfɹɪnd͡ʒmənt/ An act of breaking a law, rule, or agreement. M S

/ˈsɛksɪzm̩/ Unfair treatment of people, especially women, because of their sex. M S

/ɪˈneɪliənəbəl/ unable to be surrendered, transferred, taken away, or denied, especially as a fundamental right M S

/əbˈdʒɛktɪˌfaɪ/ to treat a person as an object rather than as a complete human being M S

/ɪnˈfɹɪnd͡ʒ/ To break or violate a law, agreement, or someone's rights. M S

human rights B2

C1 (5) Pro

humanitarian C1

/hjuˌmæ.nəˈtɛ.ɹi.ən/ Concerned with reducing human suffering and improving people's lives. M S

/ɑmz/ money, food, clothing, or other aid given to poor people as an act of charity M S

/ˈlɪb.ə.reɪ.tɚ/ a person, group, or thing that frees someone from captivity, oppression, or another constraint M S

/ˌɪn.ɪˈkwɑ.lɪ.ti/ An unfair difference between groups of people, especially in wealth or opportunity. M S

/ˌæl.tɹuˈɪs.tɪk/ Showing unselfish concern for the welfare of others. M S

C2 (25) Pro

/ˈnɪɡɚ/ extremely offensive racial slur directed at a Black person; included for understanding historical texts, never as a neutral term M S

/ˈɔːr.fən.ɪdʒ/ a residential institution that houses and cares for children without parents or guardians M S

/ˈniɡroʊ/ dated and now generally offensive: a historical racial label for a Black person; retained in quotations and some historical institutional names M S

/ˈbɹɔθəl/ a building where prostitutes are available M S

prostitution C2

/ˌprɑː.stəˈtuː.ʃən/ the practice or occupation of engaging in sexual activity in exchange for money or other payment M S

/ˈwɝkˌhaʊs/ historically in Britain, an institution where poor people received lodging and food in return for compulsory labor M S

/ˈskwɑlɚ/ a state of extreme dirtiness and unpleasant living conditions, often caused by neglect or poverty M S

/ˈfriːd.mən/ a man who has been released from slavery, especially when his legal status is distinguished from that of a freeborn person M S

/mʊˈlɑː.t̬oʊ/ offensive and dated: a historical racial label for a person of mixed Black and white ancestry, especially someone with one Black and one white parent M S

/ˈpʊrˌhaʊs/ historical: an institution maintained to house and support poor or homeless people, often under harsh conditions M S

abolitionist C2

/ˌæbəˈlɪʃənɪst/ historical: a person who campaigned to end slavery, especially in the eighteenth- and nineteenth-century Atlantic world M S

/ˈfɹiːˌbɔɹn/ born free rather than into slavery or bondage M S

maltreatment C2

/mælˈtriːtmənt/ cruel, violent, neglectful, or otherwise harmful treatment of a person or animal M S

/ˈstɪɡ.mə.taɪz/ to describe or treat a person or group as shameful, disgraceful, or socially unacceptable M S

/ˈɑmzˌhaʊs/ a residence provided by a charity for poor, elderly, or disabled people, often in a historically endowed building M S

/ˈhɑɹlətri/ dated and disparaging: prostitution, or the practice of engaging in sex for payment M S

/ˈpɛd.ə.ɹæs.ti/ sexual relations between an adult man and an adolescent boy M S

/ɪnˈfræntʃaɪz/ to give a person or group the legal right to vote M S

/ˈbɑːnd.mən/ historical: an enslaved man held in personal bondage M S

/ˌæn.ti.səˈmɪt.ɪk/ hostile, prejudiced, or discriminatory toward Jewish people M S

/ˌæn.t̬iˈsem.aɪt/ a person who is prejudiced against, hostile toward, or discriminatory toward Jewish people M S

/juːˈdʒen.ɪst/ historical: an advocate or practitioner of eugenics, the discredited program of attempting to control human reproduction according to supposed hereditary quality M S

disfranchise C2

/dɪsˈfræntʃaɪz/ to deprive a person or group of the right to vote or of another civil right M S

disenfranchise C2

/ˌdɪs.ɪnˈfɹæn.t͡ʃaɪz/ to take away someone's right to vote or another legal privilege M S

See all 25

C2+ (18) Pro

self-immolation C2+

/ˌsɛlf ˌɪməˈleɪʃən/ The act of setting oneself on fire, especially as a form of protest. M S

/tɔrt/ a wrongful act causing harm for which civil liability may arise M S

humanitarianism C2+

/hjuˌmænɪˈtɛriəˌnɪzəm/ the practice or doctrine of promoting human welfare and reducing suffering M S

/ˈpɛnjəri/ extreme poverty or destitution M S

remonstration C2+

/ˌrɛmənˈstreɪʃən/ a forceful protest or objection M S

/ˌækwiˈɛs/ to accept or comply reluctantly without protest M S

acquiescence C2+

/ˌækwiˈɛsəns/ reluctant acceptance or passive agreement without protest M S

/ˈæktɪvɪzəm/ the practice of vigorous campaigning to bring about social or political change M S

/əˈpɑrtaɪt/ a system of institutionalized racial segregation and discrimination M S

/ˌɪnɪˈkweɪʒən/ a mathematical statement that two quantities are not equal; an inequality M S

necessitous C2+

/nəˈsɛsətəs/ lacking the means of subsistence; needy or poverty-stricken M S

nonforfeiture C2+

/ˌnɑnˈfɔrfətʃər/ the retention of value or rights that would otherwise be forfeited M S

/pərˈmɪsɪv/ allowing freedom of behavior; lenient or tolerant M S

remonstratingly C2+

/rɪˈmɑnstreɪtɪŋli/ in a manner expressing protest or earnest objection M S

/ˈtræməl/ a restraint or hindrance; to restrict or impede freedom M S

/ˌʌnɪˈkwɑləti/ lack of equality; disparity M S

/woʊk/ alert to social injustice and discrimination, or the past tense of wake M S

unemancipable C2+

/ˌʌnɪˈmænsəpəbəl/ incapable of being emancipated, freed, or released from control M S

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