This week on The Missing Workbook
1 new learner
12 reviews
Word
English Vocabulary
Pick a CEFR level (A1–C2, plus C2+ for rare words beyond the CEFR scale) — 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.
Choose your level
View all levelsC2+ is beyond the official CEFR scale: rare, specialist, and literary words kept for reference.
679 words
bedlam
C2+
/ˈbɛdləm/
a scene of uproar and confusion
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
bluejacket
C2+
/ˈbluˌdʒækɪt/
an enlisted sailor in the navy
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
bravado
C2+
/brəˈvɑdoʊ/
a bold show of confidence, often to conceal fear
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
bristle
C2+
/ˈbrɪsəl/
a short stiff hair; to react with sudden anger or indignation
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
broom
C2+
/brum/
a long-handled brush for sweeping floors; a yellow-flowered shrub
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
bulge
C2+
/bʌldʒ/
a rounded swelling or protrusion; to swell outward
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
cakewalk
C2+
/ˈkeɪkˌwɔk/
something easily accomplished; a strutting dance of African American origin
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
camouflage
C2+
/ˈkæməˌflɑʒ/
disguise that blends something into its surroundings
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
candela
C2+
/kænˈdɛlə/
the SI unit of luminous intensity
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
cant
C2+
/kænt/
hypocritical or insincere talk; the jargon of a particular group
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
capstone
C2+
/ˈkæpˌstoʊn/
a crowning achievement; the top stone of a structure
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
cataclysm
C2+
/ˈkætəˌklɪzəm/
a violent, large-scale upheaval or disaster
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
cathedra
C2+
/kəˈθidrə/
the official chair or throne of a bishop or professor
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
certitude
C2+
/ˈsɝtɪˌtud/
absolute certainty or conviction
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
clamshell
C2+
/ˈklæmˌʃɛl/
the shell of a clam, or a hinged case shaped like one
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
cloaca
C2+
/kloʊˈeɪkə/
a common cavity for excretory and reproductive ducts in many vertebrates
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
coitus
C2+
/ˈkoʊɪtəs/
sexual intercourse between two individuals
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
composure
C2+
/kəmˈpoʊʒɚ/
calm self-control, especially under stress
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
conspectus
C2+
/kənˈspɛktəs/
a general survey or summary of a subject
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
consuetude
C2+
/ˈkɑnswəˌtuːd/
an established custom or usage, especially with legal force
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
conundrum
C2+
/kəˈnʌndrəm/
a confusing and difficult problem or riddle
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
decad
C2+
/ˈdɛkæd/
a group or set of ten
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
democrat
C2+
/ˈdɛməˌkræt/
an advocate or supporter of democratic government
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
denture
C2+
/ˈdɛntʃɚ/
a removable plate or frame holding artificial teeth
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
disinterest
C2+
/dɪsˈɪntrəst/
lack of concern or interest; impartiality free from bias
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
duke
C2+
/duk/
a nobleman of the highest hereditary rank below a prince
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
dyad
C2+
/ˈdaɪæd/
a group of two units or persons treated as a pair
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
dyke
C2+
/daɪk/
an embankment built to hold back water; a ditch or channel
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
ephemeron
C2+
/əˈfɛmərɑn/
a short-lived thing, such as a mayfly or transient publication
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
flair
C2+
/flɛr/
a natural talent or stylish distinctiveness
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
flapjack
C2+
/ˈflæpdʒæk/
a pancake, or a British oat-and-syrup bar
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
forestage
C2+
/ˈfɔrsteɪdʒ/
the part of a stage in front of the curtain; the apron
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
fortitude
C2+
/ˈfɔrtɪtud/
courage and strength of mind in enduring pain or adversity
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
garniture
C2+
/ˈɡɑrnɪtʃɚ/
a set of decorative accessories or embellishments
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
glut
C2+
/ɡlʌt/
an excessive supply; to supply or fill to excess
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
grandeur
C2+
/ˈɡrændʒɚ/
splendor and impressiveness; magnificence
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
gumshoe
C2+
/ˈɡʌmˌʃu/
a detective, especially a private investigator
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
halloo
C2+
/həˈlu/
a shout used to attract attention or to urge on hounds
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
handbill
C2+
/ˈhændˌbɪl/
a small printed advertisement or notice distributed by hand
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
haversack
C2+
/ˈhævɚˌsæk/
a single-strapped bag worn over one shoulder for carrying provisions
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
haze
C2+
/heɪz/
a slight obscuring of the atmosphere by dust, smoke, or vapor
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
hermitage
C2+
/ˈhɝmɪtɪdʒ/
the dwelling of a hermit or a secluded retreat
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
hodgepodge
C2+
/ˈhɑdʒˌpɑdʒ/
a confused or jumbled mixture of disparate things
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
hothouse
C2+
/ˈhɑtˌhaʊs/
a heated greenhouse for growing delicate plants; a forcing environment
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
hurrah
C2+
/həˈrɑ/
a shout of joy, triumph, or approval
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
hydro
C2+
/ˈhaɪdroʊ/
hydroelectric power, or a spa establishment using water treatments
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
ire
C2+
/ˈaɪər/
intense anger; wrath
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
joss
C2+
/ˈdʒɑs/
a Chinese idol or cult image; luck or fortune
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
keg
C2+
/kɛɡ/
a small barrel, especially one used for beer
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
l
C2+
/ɛl/
the twelfth letter of the English alphabet
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
landslip
C2+
/ˈlændˌslɪp/
a landslide; a collapse of earth down a slope
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
legerdemain
C2+
/ˌlɛdʒɚdɪˈmeɪn/
sleight of hand; skillful deception or trickery
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
marginalia
C2+
/ˌmɑrdʒɪˈneɪliə/
notes written in the margins of a book or manuscript
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
matrix
C2+
/ˈmeɪtrɪks/
an environment in which something develops; a rectangular array of numbers
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
memorandum
C2+
/ˌmɛməˈrændəm/
a written note or record, especially in an organization
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
merch
C2+
/mɜrtʃ/
merchandise, especially branded products sold to fans
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
mike
C2+
/maɪk/
a microphone; to fit with a microphone
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
milestone
C2+
/ˈmaɪlˌstoʊn/
a significant stage or event; a roadside marker of distance
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
miscarriage
C2+
/ˈmɪsˌkɛrɪdʒ/
the loss of a pregnancy; a failure or mismanagement of something
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
moonshine
C2+
/ˈmunʃaɪn/
illicitly distilled liquor; foolish or unrealistic talk
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
nectarine
C2+
/ˈnɛktərin/
a smooth-skinned variety of peach
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
neve
C2+
/neɪˈveɪ/
granular snow that has not yet compacted into glacial ice; an expanse of such snow
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
nighttime
C2+
/ˈnaɪttaɪm/
the period of darkness between sunset and sunrise
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
nil
C2+
/nɪl/
nothing; zero, especially as a score
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
noblesse
C2+
/noʊˈblɛs/
the noble class; nobility, especially in the obligation of high rank
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
opus
C2+
/ˈoʊpəs/
an artistic work, especially a musical composition numbered in a composer's output
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
overpass
C2+
/ˈoʊvɚˌpæs/
a bridge carrying one road or path over another
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
pail
C2+
/peɪl/
a bucket, especially one for carrying liquids
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
paroemia
C2+
/pəˈrimiə/
a proverb or adage, especially as a subject of study
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
pivot
C2+
/ˈpɪvət/
a central point on which something turns, or to turn on such a point
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
plaint
C2+
/pleɪnt/
an expression of grief or complaint; a lament
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
plaudit
C2+
/ˈplɔdɪt/
an expression of praise or approval
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
plight
C2+
/plaɪt/
a difficult or unfortunate situation
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
pogrom
C2+
/ˈpoʊɡrəm/
an organized massacre, especially of an ethnic group
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
pouch
C2+
/paʊtʃ/
a small bag or pocket-like container
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
puff
C2+
/pʌf/
a short, sudden burst of breath, air, or smoke
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
rectangle
C2+
/ˈrɛktæŋɡl/
a four-sided figure with four right angles
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
rectitude
C2+
/ˈrɛktɪtud/
moral uprightness; righteousness
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
reprieve
C2+
/rɪˈpriv/
a temporary postponement of punishment or trouble
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
ripple
C2+
/ˈrɪpəl/
a small wave or series of waves, or a spreading effect
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
rucksack
C2+
/ˈrʌkˌsæk/
a bag with shoulder straps carried on the back; a backpack
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
serf
C2+
/sɝf/
a feudal laborer bound to and transferred with the land
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
setup
C2+
/ˈsɛtˌʌp/
the way something is arranged or organized; an arrangement or scheme
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
shortfall
C2+
/ˈʃɔrtˌfɔl/
a deficit; the amount by which something falls short of a requirement
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
signet
C2+
/ˈsɪɡnɪt/
a small seal, often set in a ring, used to authenticate documents
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
slur
C2+
/slɝ/
an insulting remark, or to pronounce words indistinctly
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
snag
C2+
/snæɡ/
an unexpected obstacle, or a sharp projection that catches or tears
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
sovereign
C2+
/ˈsɑvrən/
a supreme ruler; possessing supreme or independent authority
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
spat
C2+
/spæt/
a petty quarrel; to engage in a brief minor dispute
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
squab
C2+
/skwɑb/
a young domestic pigeon raised for eating
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
st
C2+
/sənt/
abbreviation for saint or street
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
subtext
C2+
/ˈsʌbtɛkst/
an underlying meaning not stated explicitly in what is said
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
tint
C2+
/tɪnt/
a shade or variety of a color; to color slightly
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
tombstone
C2+
/ˈtumstoʊn/
a stone marker placed over a grave, usually bearing the deceased's name
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
tome
C2+
/toʊm/
a large, heavy, or scholarly book
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
twig
C2+
/twɪɡ/
a small thin shoot growing from a branch or stem
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off