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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71 words
cocaine
C1
/koʊˈkeɪn/
an addictive stimulant drug obtained from coca leaves or made synthetically, used illegally and sometimes medically as a local anesthetic
autopsy
C1
/ˈɔtɑpsi/
a medical examination and dissection of a body after death to determine the cause of death or effects of disease
psychiatrist
C1
/ˌsaɪˈkaɪ.ə.tɹɪst/
A medical doctor who specializes in treating mental illness.
asylum
C1
/əˈsaɪləm/
Protection given by a country to someone who has fled danger in their own country.
surgical
C1
/ˈsɝd͡ʒɪkəl/
Relating to or used in surgery.
diagnosis
C1
/daɪəɡˈnəʊsɪs/
The act of identifying a disease or medical condition, or the conclusion reached.
psychiatric
C1
/ˌsaɪ.kiˈæt.ɹɪk/
Relating to mental illness and its treatment.
intervention
C1
/ɪntɚˈvɛnʃən/
The act of becoming involved in a situation in order to change or help it.
asthma
C1
/ˈæzmə/
a long-term respiratory condition in which narrowed, inflamed airways cause wheezing, coughing, chest tightness, or shortness of breath
clinical
C1
/ˈklɪnɪkəl/
Relating to the treatment of patients in a clinic or hospital.
suicidal
C1
/ˌsu.əˈsaɪ.dəl/
relating to suicide, or experiencing thoughts or intentions of ending one's own life
traumatic
C1
/tɹɔˈmætɪk/
Deeply shocking and emotionally painful.
sedative
C1
/ˈsɛdətɪv/
a drug that calms a person or reduces nervous system activity, sometimes causing sleep
gruesome
C1
/ˈɡɹusəm/
Extremely unpleasant and shocking, usually involving death, injury, or blood.
damaging
C1
/ˈdæmɪdʒɪŋ/
Causing harm or injury.
postmortem
C1
/ˌpoʊstˈmɔːrtəm/
a medical examination of a body after death to determine the cause of death
syphilis
C1
/ˈsɪfəlɪs/
a sexually transmitted bacterial infection caused by Treponema pallidum that can progress through several stages if untreated
ulcer
C1
/ˈʌlsɚ/
an open sore on the skin or a mucous membrane in which tissue has been damaged or destroyed
mortuary
C1
/ˈmɔɹtʃuˌɛɹi/
a room or building where dead bodies are kept before burial, cremation, or examination
insomnia
C1
/ɪnˈsɑːm.ni.ə/
persistent difficulty falling asleep, staying asleep, or obtaining restorative sleep
vial
C1
/ˈvaɪəl/
a small glass or plastic container, especially one used for medicine, perfume, or a laboratory sample
leukemia
C1
/luːˈkiː.mi.ə/
any of a group of cancers of blood-forming tissues that produce abnormal blood cells, often abnormal white cells
complication
C1
/ˌkɑm.pləˈkeɪ.ʃən/
A problem or difficulty that makes a situation harder to deal with.
hemorrhage
C1
/ˈhɛm.ɚ.ɪdʒ/
a heavy or uncontrolled loss of blood from a damaged blood vessel
elixir
C1
/ɪˈlɪksɚ/
a mythical or magical liquid believed to cure disease, preserve youth, or prolong life
septic
C1
/ˈsɛp.tɪk/
infected with harmful microorganisms, or relating to sepsis
pathological
C1
/ˌpæθ.əˈlɑd͡ʒ.ɪ.kəl/
related to disease or to the study of disease
fetal
C1
/ˈfitl̩/
relating to a fetus or its development before birth
tetanus
C1
/ˈtɛtənəs/
a serious infection caused by Clostridium tetani, marked by painful muscle stiffness and spasms
meningitis
C1
/ˌmɛnənˈdʒaɪtəs/
infectious disease characterized by inflammation of the meninges (the tissues that surround the brain or spinal cord) usually caused by a bacterial infection
diagnose
C1
/ˈdaɪ.əɡˌnoʊs/
To identify a disease or medical condition from its signs and symptoms.
veterinary
C1
/ˈvɛtərɪˌnɛri/
relating to the medical and surgical treatment of animals
longevity
C1
/lɑnˈdʒevəti/
a long life, or the length of time that a person or organism lives
catheter
C1
/ˈkæθɪtɚ/
a thin flexible tube inserted into the body to permit introduction or withdrawal of fluids or to keep the passageway open
asphyxiation
C1
/æsˌfɪksiˈeɪʃən/
the condition of being deprived of enough oxygen to breathe or remain conscious
appendicitis
C1
/əˌpɛn.dəˈsaɪ.t̬əs/
inflammation of the appendix, typically causing severe pain in the lower right abdomen
epileptic
C1
/ˌɛpɪˈlɛptɪk/
relating to epilepsy or involving seizures caused by epilepsy
amputate
C1
/ˈæmpjʊteɪt/
to remove all or part of a limb or other body part by surgery
anemia
C1
/əˈniː.mi.ə/
a condition in which the blood has too few red cells or too little hemoglobin to carry oxygen normally
mumps
C1
/mʌmps/
a contagious viral illness, especially of children, that causes fever and painful swelling of the salivary glands
infusion
C1
/ɪnˈfjuːʒən/
the introduction of a new element, quality, or resource that changes or strengthens something
castrate
C1
/ˈkæs.tɹeɪt/
to remove or disable the testicles of a person or animal; a clinical and potentially sensitive term
contusion
C1
/kənˈtuʒən/
an injury that doesn't break the skin but results in some discoloration
sterilize
C1
/ˈstɛɹ.ɪ.laɪz/
to destroy or remove microorganisms from an object, substance, or place
antiseptic
C1
/ˌæn.tiˈsep.tɪk/
a substance applied to living tissue to prevent or slow the growth of harmful microorganisms
vaccination
C1
/ˌvæksəˈneɪʃən/
the process of administering a vaccine to stimulate protection against a disease
anemic
C1
/əˈniːmɪk/
affected by or relating to anemia, a deficiency of healthy red blood cells or hemoglobin
bedridden
C1
/ˈbɛdˌrɪdən/
unable to leave one's bed because of illness, injury, age, or weakness
hypodermic
C1
/ˌhaɪpəˈdɝmɪk/
relating to the region beneath the skin, especially to an injection given there
psychotherapy
C1
/ˌsaɪkoʊˈθɛɹəpi/
the treatment of mental or emotional problems by psychological means
wean
C1
/wiːn/
to accustom a baby or young animal gradually to food other than milk and end dependence on nursing
bloodshot
C1
/ˈblʌdˌʃɑːt/
of the eyes, reddened because small blood vessels are swollen or more visible
symptomatic
C1
/ˌsɪmp.təˈmæt.ɪk/
Being a sign of a wider, usually bad, situation or problem.
cataract
C1
/ˈkætəˌrækt/
a clouding of the eye's natural lens that impairs vision
deafness
C1
/ˈdɛfnəs/
The condition of being deaf; the lack or loss of the ability to hear.
lockjaw
C1
/ˈlɑkˌdʒɔ/
an acute and serious infection of the central nervous system caused by bacterial infection of open wounds
restorative
C1
/ɹɪˈstɒɹətɪv/
Having the power to make you feel healthy, strong, or refreshed again.
palliative
C1
/ˈpæl.i.ə.tɪv/
relieving pain or other symptoms without curing the underlying disease
ail
C1
/eɪl/
to cause someone pain, illness, or persistent trouble, often used in questions
infirmity
C1
/ɪnˈfɜɹməti/
physical weakness or illness, especially because of age
inoculate
C1
/ɪˈnɑːkjəleɪt/
to introduce a vaccine or antigen into a person or animal in order to produce immunity
optician
C1
/ɑːpˈtɪʃən/
a trained professional who makes, fits, and dispenses glasses or contact lenses from a prescription
miscarry
C1
/ˌmɪsˈker.i/
to lose an embryo or fetus spontaneously before it can survive independently
ventral
C1
/ˈvɛntrəl/
situated on or directed toward the belly or lower surface of an animal, or the front surface of an upright human body
sickbed
C1
/ˈsɪkˌbɛd/
the bed or bedside place occupied by a person who is ill
phial
C1
/ˈfaɪəl/
a small, narrow bottle, especially one used for medicines, chemicals, or other liquids
prevalence
C1
/ˈpɹɛvələns/
The fact of being widespread or common.
shivery
C1
/ˈʃɪv.ər.i/
prone to shivering or feeling cold
ulceration
C1
/ˌʌlsəˈɹeɪʃən/
the process by which an ulcer forms in skin or a mucous membrane
remittent
C1
/rɪˈmɪtənt/
medicine: decreasing in severity at intervals without disappearing completely
inoculation
C1
/ɪˌnɑːkjəˈleɪʃən/
the action of immunizing someone against a disease by introducing infective material, microorganisms, or vaccine into the body