English Vocabulary
Pick a CEFR level (A1–C2) — A1 is the friendliest place to start — and browse its words grouped by topic: travel, food, the body, emotions, and more. Each word shows its meaning, example sentences, and US/UK pronunciation.
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84 words
jury
B2
/ˈd͡ʒʊɹi/
A group of people chosen to listen to a court case and decide whether someone is guilty.
sue
B2
/sjuː/
To take legal action against someone in a court of law.
testify
B2
/ˈtɛstɪfaɪ/
To give evidence in a court of law, usually under oath.
obey
B2
/oʊˈbeɪ/
To do what a person, rule, or law tells you to do.
testimony
B2
/ˈtɛstɪmoʊni/
A formal statement made by a witness in a court of law.
paperwork
B2
/ˈpeɪ.pɚˌwɝk/
The routine writing and handling of documents, forms, and reports.
oath
B2
/ˈoʊθ/
A serious, formal promise to do something or to tell the truth.
cabinet
B2
/ˈkæb.ɪ.nɪt/
A piece of furniture with shelves or drawers for storing or showing things.
lobby
B2
/ˈlɑ.bi/
A large entrance area or waiting room inside a building.
parliament
B2
/ˈpɑɹ.lə.mənt/
The group of elected people who make a country's laws.
plead
B2
/pliːd/
To ask for something in a very emotional and urgent way.
voting
B2
/ˈvoʊtɪŋ/
The act or process of casting a vote in an election or decision.
submit
B2
/səbˈmɪt/
To give or send something to someone in authority for them to consider.
federation
B2
/ˌfed.əˈreɪ.ʃən/
a political union whose constituent states or regions retain some internal self-government
exhibit
B2
/ɪɡˈzɪbɪt/
To show something publicly, especially in a museum or gallery.
exposure
B2
/ɪkˈspoʊ.ʒɚ/
The state of being affected by something, such as a substance or influence.
lawsuit
B2
/ˈlɔˌs(j)ut/
A legal case that one person or group brings against another in a court of law.
recognition
B2
/ˌɹɛkəɡˈnɪʃ(ə)n/
The act of knowing someone or something because you have seen them before.
obligation
B2
/ˌɑ.blɪˈɡeɪ.ʃn̩/
Something you must do because of a law, promise, or moral duty.
irresponsible
B2
/ˌɪɹ.əˈspɑn.sə.bəl/
Not thinking about or caring about the results of your actions
freeman
B2
/ˈfɹiː.mən/
a person who is not a serf or a slave
chancellor
B2
/ˈt͡ʃænsələ/
A senior government official, often in charge of finance or law.
dismiss
B2
/dɪsˈmɪs/
To decide that something or someone is not worth considering or taking seriously.
contempt
B2
/kənˈtɛmpt/
A strong feeling that someone or something is worthless and deserves no respect.
unity
B2
/ˈjunɪti/
The state of being joined together as one; agreement and harmony.
defy
B2
/dɪˈfaɪ/
To refuse to obey a person, rule, or law.
accusation
B2
/ək.jʊˈze.ʃən/
A statement that someone has done something wrong or illegal.
condemn
B2
/kənˈdɛm/
to say strongly that something is wrong or that you disapprove of it
impose
B2
/ɪmˈpoʊz/
To officially force a rule, tax, or punishment on people.
prosecute
B2
/ˈpɹɒsɪkjuːt/
To officially accuse someone of a crime and try them in court.
immortality
B2
/ˌɪmɔːɹˈtæləti/
The state of being able to live forever.
ownership
B2
/ˈoʊnɚʃɪp/
The fact of owning something; legal possession.
competent
B2
/ˈkɒmpətənt/
Having enough skill, knowledge, or ability to do something well.
bankruptcy
B2
/ˈbæŋkˌɹʌp(t).si/
The legal state of being unable to pay your debts.
regent
B2
/ˈriː.dʒənt/
a person who governs temporarily for a monarch who is absent, underage, or unable to rule
violate
B2
/ˈvaɪəˌleɪt/
To break a law, rule, agreement, or promise.
nomination
B2
/ˌnɑmɪˈneɪʃən/
The act of officially suggesting someone for a job, position, or award.
obedient
B2
/əˈbidiənt/
Willing to do what you are told by someone in authority.
informer
B2
/ˌɪnˈfɔrmɝ/
A person who tells authorities about improper or illegal activity.
registry
B2
/ˈredʒ.ɪ.stri/
an official list or database in which names, events, property, or other information are recorded
administrative
B2
/ədˈmɪn.əˌstɹeɪ.tɪv/
Relating to the management or organization of a business, institution, or system.
overthrow
B2
/ˌoʊvɚˈθɹoʊ/
To remove a government or leader from power, especially by force.
enforce
B2
/ɪnˈfoɹs/
To make sure a law, rule, or agreement is obeyed.
juror
B2
/ˈd͡ʒʊɹɚ/
A member of a jury in a court of law.
legislation
B2
/ˌlɛd͡ʒɪˈsleɪʃən/
A law or set of laws made by a government.
unauthorized
B2
/əˈnɔθɝˌaɪzd/
Done or made without official permission.
prefect
B2
/ˈpɹiːfɛkt/
An older school pupil given authority over other students.
righteousness
B2
/ˈɹaɪt͡ʃəsnəs/
The quality of being morally good and doing what is right.
rebellious
B2
/ɹəˈbɛliəs/
Refusing to obey rules or those in authority.
relaxation
B2
/rᵻˌlækˈseɪ.ʃən/
The state of resting and being free from work, stress, or worry.
neatly
B2
/ˈniːtli/
with neatness
writ
B2
/ɹɪt/
Authority, power to enforce compliance.
unofficial
B2
/ʌn.əˈfɪʃ.əl/
Not announced or confirmed by an authority; not yet official
bureaucracy
B2
/bjʊˈɹɑ.kɹə.si/
A system of government or management run through many departments and strict official rules.
compulsory
B2
/kəmˈpʌlsəɹi/
that must be done because of a rule or law
vapor
B2
/ˈveɪpɚ/
Cloudy diffused matter such as mist, steam or fumes suspended in the air.
assert
B2
/əˈsɝt/
To state firmly that something is true.
borough
B2
/ˈbɝː.oʊ/
a town or district that is an administrative unit, especially in the United Kingdom
provision
B2
/pɹəˈvɪʒ.ən/
A condition or rule in a law or contract.
regency
B2
/ˈriːdʒənsi/
government by a regent on behalf of a monarch who is absent, underage, or unable to rule
voter
B2
/ˈvoʊtɚ/
A person who votes or has the right to vote in an election.
blackness
B2
/ˈblæknəs/
The state or quality of being black in colour.
proletariat
B2
/ˌpɹoʊ.lɪˈtɛɚ.i.ət/
Wage earners collectively; people who own no capital and depend on their labour for survival; the working class, especially when seen as engaged in a class struggle with the bourgeoisie (“the capital-owning class”).
township
B2
/ˈtaʊnˌʃɪp/
an administrative division of a county or other larger local-government area
overturn
B2
/ˌəʊvə(ɹ)ˈtɜː(ɹ)n/
To officially change or cancel a decision, especially a legal one.
competence
B2
/ˈkɑm.pə.təns/
The ability to do something well, with the necessary skill or knowledge.
advisable
B2
/ədˈvaɪzəbəl/
Worthy of being recommended; desirable.
inaugural
B2
/ɪˈnɔɡjərəl/
marking the beginning or first occurrence of an activity, series, or institution
prohibit
B2
/pɹoʊˈhɪbɪt/
To officially forbid something, often by law or rule.
certify
B2
/ˈsɝ.tɪ.faɪ/
To state officially that something has met a required standard.
infringement
B2
/ɪnˈfɹɪnd͡ʒmənt/
An act of breaking a law, rule, or agreement.
unclaimed
B2
/ˌʌnˈkleɪmd/
not collected, requested, or taken by the person entitled to something
dissident
B2
/ˈdɪsədɪnt/
A person who publicly disagrees with and opposes their government or its policies.
assessor
B2
/əˈsɛsɚ/
a person whose job is to evaluate a person's work, ability, or compliance with a standard
criterion
B2
/kɹɪˈtɪəɹi.ən/
A standard or rule used to judge or compare things.
impeach
B2
/ɪmˈpiːt͡ʃ/
charge (a public official) with an offense or misdemeanor committed while in office
eligibility
B2
/ˌel.ə.dʒəˈbɪl.ə.t̬i/
the state of meeting the conditions required to take part in, receive, or be chosen for something
disinherit
B2
/ˌdɪsɪnˈhɛrɪt/
to prevent someone from receiving property or money that they would otherwise inherit, especially by changing a will
guideline
B2
/ˈɡaɪdˌlaɪn/
A general rule or piece of advice that tells you how something should be done.
peerage
B2
/ˈpɪr.ɪdʒ/
the rank, title, or dignity of a British peer
penalize
B2
/ˈpɛnəˌlaɪz/
To punish someone for breaking a rule or law.
naturalization
B2
/ˌnætʃ(ə)rələˈzeɪʃən/
the legal process by which a non-citizen acquires citizenship of a country
infringe
B2
/ɪnˈfɹɪnd͡ʒ/
To break or violate a law, agreement, or someone's rights.
polity
B2
/ˈpɑ.lə.ti/
An organized society or state with its own form of government.