This week on The Missing Workbook
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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.
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View all levelsC2+ is beyond the official CEFR scale: rare, specialist, and literary words kept for reference.
129 words
rebus
C2+
/ˈɹibəs/
An arrangement of pictures, symbols, or words representing phrases or words, especially as a word puzzle.
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coda
C2+
/ˈkoʊ.də/
The optional final sound of a syllable or word, occurring after its nucleus and usually composed of one or more consonants.
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quantifier
C2+
/ˈkwɑntɪˌfaɪɚ/
a word or symbol expressing quantity, such as 'all' or 'some'
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gist
C2+
/dʒɪst/
the central or essential meaning of a speech or text
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locution
C2+
/loʊˈkjuʃən/
a particular word, phrase, or style of expression
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monotone
C2+
/ˈmɑnəˌtoʊn/
a single unvaried tone or pitch in speech or sound
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attaintment
C2+
/əˈteɪntmənt/
archaic word for the act of attainting or staining with dishonour
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baba
C2+
/ˈbɑːbɑː/
a small rum-soaked sponge cake; also a term for father or old man
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bugger
C2+
/ˈbʌɡɚ/
British vulgar term for a person or thing; to spoil or tire out
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dayspring
C2+
/ˈdeɪˌsprɪŋ/
literary or archaic term for dawn or daybreak
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expletive
C2+
/ˈɛksplɪtɪv/
a profane or obscene exclamation; a meaningless filler word
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apothecary
C2+
/əˈpɑθəkɛri/
an archaic term for a pharmacist who prepared and sold medicines
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arse
C2+
/ɑrs/
vulgar British term for the buttocks or a foolish person
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baragouin
C2+
/ˌbærəˈɡwɪn/
unintelligible or jargon-like speech; gibberish
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lexicon
C2+
/ˈlɛksɪkɑn/
the vocabulary of a language, person, or field; a dictionary
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maxim
C2+
/ˈmæksɪm/
a short pithy statement expressing a general truth or rule of conduct
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mime
C2+
/maɪm/
acting using gesture and movement without speech; to perform thus
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poser
C2+
/ˈpoʊzər/
a puzzling question or problem; one who poses or affects a persona
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rede
C2+
/rid/
counsel or advice; an archaic word for guidance or a plan
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rep
C2+
/rɛp/
an informal term for a representative, reputation, or a repetition
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richdom
C2+
/ˈrɪtʃdəm/
an archaic word for the state of being rich; wealth or richness
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sawbones
C2+
/ˈsɔboʊnz/
a slang term for a surgeon or doctor
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spook
C2+
/spuk/
a ghost; also a slang term for a spy, or to frighten
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tummy
C2+
/ˈtʌmi/
the stomach or belly, especially in informal or childish speech
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vocable
C2+
/ˈvoʊkəbəl/
a word regarded as a unit of sound rather than meaning
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acceptation
C2+
/ˌæksɛpˈteɪʃən/
the accepted or usual meaning of a word or expression
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bunny
C2+
/ˈbʌni/
a child's word for a rabbit
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chickabiddy
C2+
/ˈtʃɪkəˌbɪdi/
a term of endearment for a child or chicken
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civility
C2+
/səˈvɪləti/
formal politeness and courtesy in behavior or speech
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creed
C2+
/krid/
a formal statement of religious belief or a set of guiding principles
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derivation
C2+
/ˌdɛrɪˈveɪʃən/
the origin or source of something, especially a word's formation
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dialect
C2+
/ˈdaɪəˌlɛkt/
a regional or social variety of a language with distinctive features
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diction
C2+
/ˈdɪkʃən/
the choice and use of words, or clarity of speech
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digression
C2+
/daɪˈɡrɛʃən/
a temporary departure from the main subject in speech or writing
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dimpsy
C2+
/ˈdɪmpsi/
dialectal term for twilight or the dim half-light of dusk
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discommendation
C2+
/ˌdɪskɒmənˈdeɪʃən/
archaic term for blame, censure, or expression of disapproval
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dismission
C2+
/dɪsˈmɪʃən/
archaic term for dismissal or the act of sending away
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doomsman
C2+
/ˈdumzmən/
archaic term for a judge or one who pronounces sentence
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edificator
C2+
/ˈɛdɪfɪˌkeɪtər/
archaic term for a builder, or one who edifies morally
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encomium
C2+
/ɛnˈkoʊmiəm/
a speech or piece of writing that warmly praises someone or something
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falsehood
C2+
/ˈfɔlshʊd/
an untrue statement; a lie
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hubby
C2+
/ˈhʌbi/
an informal or affectionate term for a husband
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incumbency
C2+
/ɪnˈkʌmbənsi/
the holding of an office or position, or its term
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monologue
C2+
/ˈmɑnəlɔɡ/
a long speech by one speaker, especially in a play or performance
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overstatement
C2+
/ˌoʊvɚˈsteɪtmənt/
an exaggerated or excessive statement of something
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presidentship
C2+
/ˈprɛzɪdəntʃɪp/
the office or term of a president
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prof
C2+
/prɑf/
an informal term for a professor
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rescript
C2+
/ˈriskrɪpt/
an official edict or written answer from an authority
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semivowel
C2+
/ˈsɛmiˌvaʊəl/
a speech sound such as w or y that functions like both vowel and consonant
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simile
C2+
/ˈsɪməli/
a figure of speech comparing two things using 'like' or 'as'
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stound
C2+
/staʊnd/
an archaic word for a moment, sharp pang, or time of trial
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verbiage
C2+
/ˈvɝbiɪdʒ/
excessive or unnecessarily wordy language
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bim
C2+
/bɪm/
dialectal or slang term for a woman, often derogatory; a bimbo
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biz
C2+
/bɪz/
informal term for business or a particular trade or industry
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blackcoat
C2+
/ˈblækkoʊt/
archaic term for a clergyman, from the black clerical garb
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blee
C2+
/bli/
archaic word for complexion, color, or hue
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bouk
C2+
/buk/
Scots and dialectal word for the body, bulk, or trunk
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bower
C2+
/ˈbaʊər/
a leafy shelter or arbor; a poetic word for a lady's private chamber
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bub
C2+
/bʌb/
an informal, often condescending term of address for a man or boy
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cablegram
C2+
/ˈkeɪbəlˌɡræm/
a message sent by submarine telegraph cable
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catchword
C2+
/ˈkætʃˌwɜrd/
a memorable word or phrase repeated as a slogan
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copter
C2+
/ˈkɑptɚ/
an informal term for a helicopter
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counterjumper
C2+
/ˈkaʊntɚˌdʒʌmpɚ/
a derogatory old term for a shop assistant or salesclerk
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credo
C2+
/ˈkridoʊ/
a statement of the beliefs or principles that guide one's actions
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culver
C2+
/ˈkʌlvər/
an archaic or dialectal word for a wood pigeon or dove
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dandiprat
C2+
/ˈdændɪˌpræt/
an archaic term for an insignificant fellow or urchin
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definiendum
C2+
/dɪˌfɪniˈɛndəm/
the term that is being defined in a definition
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distracter
C2+
/dɪsˈtræktər/
a wrong but plausible answer option in a multiple-choice test
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elocution
C2+
/ˌɛləˈkjuʃən/
the skill of clear and expressive speech
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epithet
C2+
/ˈɛpɪˌθɛt/
a descriptive word or phrase characterizing a person or thing, often abusive
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ey
C2+
/eɪ/
a dialectal or archaic word for an island, especially a small one
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fam
C2+
/fæm/
informal term for one's family or close friends
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filibuster
C2+
/ˈfɪləˌbʌstɚ/
a prolonged speech used to obstruct a legislative vote
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footy
C2+
/ˈfʊti/
informal term for football (soccer or Australian rules)
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gal
C2+
/ɡæl/
informal term for a girl or woman
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generality
C2+
/ˌdʒɛnəˈræləti/
a general or vague statement; the quality of being general
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gloss
C2+
/ˈɡlɔs/
a brief explanation of a word, or a shine on a surface
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guaranty
C2+
/ˈɡɛrənti/
a formal pledge to answer for another's debt or obligation
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hanky
C2+
/ˈhæŋki/
an informal term for a handkerchief
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haw
C2+
/hɔː/
the fruit of the hawthorn; to hesitate in speech with a drawling sound
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hon
C2+
/hʌn/
an informal term of affection, short for honey
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icebox
C2+
/ˈaɪsˌbɑks/
an insulated cabinet cooled by ice; an early or informal term for a refrigerator
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inequation
C2+
/ˌɪnɪˈkweɪʒən/
a mathematical statement that two quantities are not equal; an inequality
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infix
C2+
/ˈɪnfɪks/
an affix inserted within a word, or to fix something firmly inside
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insolence
C2+
/ˈɪnsələns/
rude and disrespectful behavior or speech
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interlocution
C2+
/ˌɪntɚloʊˈkjuʃən/
dialogue or conversation; an interchange of speech
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jabberwocky
C2+
/ˈdʒæbərˌwɑki/
meaningless or nonsensical language
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lingua
C2+
/ˈlɪŋɡwə/
a tongue or tongue-like part; a language (as in lingua franca)
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mam
C2+
/mæm/
a familiar or dialectal word for one's mother
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mantra
C2+
/ˈmæntrə/
a repeated word or phrase used in meditation or as a guiding principle
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meed
C2+
/mid/
a deserved reward or recompense; an archaic term for due praise
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missive
C2+
/ˈmɪsɪv/
a written message or letter, especially a formal one
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modifier
C2+
/ˈmɑdəˌfaɪər/
a word or element that qualifies or limits the meaning of another
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muttering
C2+
/ˈmʌtərɪŋ/
low, indistinct, often discontented speech
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numeral
C2+
/ˈnumərəl/
a symbol or word denoting a number
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oxymoron
C2+
/ˌɑksiˈmɔrɑn/
a figure of speech combining contradictory terms
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