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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83 words
hoarse
C2+
/hɔɹs/
rough and harsh in voice or sound
ashen
C2+
/ˈæʃ.ən/
anemic looking from illness or emotion
incarnadine
C2+
/ɪnˈkɑɹnəˌdiːn/
Of a red colour.
declivity
C2+
/dɪˈklɪvɪti/
An inward curve of the exoskeleton of an insect, such as between body segments; a segment of an insect's body where the exoskeleton curves inward.
rheumy
C2+
/ˈɹumi/
especially of the eyes, watery or affected by a mucous discharge
palliate
C2+
/ˈpælieɪt/
To relieve the symptoms of; to ameliorate.
opium-eater
C2+
/ˈoʊpiəm ˌiːtər/
historical: a person who habitually consumes opium, especially for intoxication; an opium user or addict
qualmish
C2+
/ˈkwɑːmɪʃ/
Affected with qualms; queasy, nauseous
aggrieve
C2+
/əˈɡriv/
to cause distress or injury to someone, especially by unjust treatment
damnify
C2+
/ˈdæmnɪfaɪ/
to cause loss or injury to, especially in legal contexts
cannabis
C2+
/ˈkænəbɪs/
a plant whose dried parts are used as a drug and for fiber
diseased
C2+
/dɪˈzizd/
affected by or suffering from disease; unhealthy
medic
C2+
/ˈmɛdɪk/
a person trained to give medical treatment, especially in the field
therapeutic
C2+
/ˌθɛrəˈpjutɪk/
relating to the healing or curing of disease; soothing
atonement
C2+
/əˈtoʊnmənt/
reparation or amends made for a wrong or injury
curative
C2+
/ˈkjʊrətɪv/
able to cure disease; a remedy
operable
C2+
/ˈɑpərəbəl/
able to be used or operated; suitable for surgery
redress
C2+
/rɪˈdrɛs/
remedy or compensation for a wrong or grievance
sawbones
C2+
/ˈsɔboʊnz/
a slang term for a surgeon or doctor
ailment
C2+
/ˈeɪlmənt/
a minor illness or bodily disorder
algid
C2+
/ˈældʒɪd/
cold or chilly, especially of the body during illness
convalescence
C2+
/ˌkɑnvəˈlɛsəns/
the gradual recovery of health after illness
gaunt
C2+
/ɡɔnt/
lean and haggard, especially from illness or hardship
grippe
C2+
/ɡrɪp/
influenza; a feverish respiratory illness (dated)
healthful
C2+
/ˈhɛlθfəl/
conducive to good health; wholesome
indisposition
C2+
/ˌɪndɪspəˈzɪʃən/
a slight illness; an unwillingness or aversion
infective
C2+
/ɪnˈfɛktɪv/
capable of causing infection; communicating disease
medicament
C2+
/məˈdɪkəmənt/
a substance used in medical treatment; a medicine
medicate
C2+
/ˈmɛdɪˌkeɪt/
to treat with medicine or a drug
pallid
C2+
/ˈpælɪd/
pale, especially from illness or lack of vitality
pharmaceutical
C2+
/ˌfɑrməˈsutɪkəl/
relating to medicinal drugs, or such a drug itself
physic
C2+
/ˈfɪzɪk/
a medicine, especially a purgative; the art of healing (archaic)
preventative
C2+
/prɪˈvɛntətɪv/
serving to prevent something, especially disease
refractory
C2+
/rɪˈfræktəri/
stubbornly resistant to control or treatment
restitution
C2+
/ˌrɛstɪˈtuʃən/
the restoration of something lost or the compensation for injury or loss
sickly
C2+
/ˈsɪkli/
often ill or unhealthy, or suggesting illness
tranquillize
C2+
/ˈtræŋkwəlaɪz/
to make calm or sedate, especially with a drug
alterative
C2+
/ˈɔltəˌreɪtɪv/
tending to alter, or a remedy that gradually restores healthy bodily function
amends
C2+
/əˈmɛndz/
reparation or compensation made for a wrong or injury
asymptomatic
C2+
/ˌeɪsɪmptəˈmætɪk/
producing or showing no symptoms of disease
atrophy
C2+
/ˈætrəfi/
the wasting away of a body part or faculty from disuse or disease
cauterize
C2+
/ˈkɔtəˌraɪz/
to burn tissue to stop bleeding or prevent infection
cephalalgia
C2+
/ˌsɛfəˈlældʒiə/
headache, especially as a medical symptom
clinically
C2+
/ˈklɪnɪkli/
in a manner relating to medical treatment, or coldly objectively
contumely
C2+
/ˈkɑntəˌmili/
insolent or contemptuous treatment; humiliating rudeness
dentistry
C2+
/ˈdɛntɪstri/
the branch of medicine concerned with the teeth and gums
diagnostic
C2+
/ˌdaɪəɡˈnɑstɪk/
relating to the identification of a disease or problem
fastigium
C2+
/fæˈstɪdʒiəm/
the highest point or apex, especially the peak of a fever or disease
finishing
C2+
/ˈfɪnɪʃɪŋ/
the final stage or surface treatment of a process
healthiness
C2+
/ˈhɛlθinəs/
the state of being healthy or conducive to health
hospitalization
C2+
/ˌhɑspɪtələˈzeɪʃən/
the act of admitting or the period of staying in a hospital for treatment
hygienics
C2+
/haɪˈdʒɛnɪks/
the science or principles of hygiene and the preservation of health
immunity
C2+
/ɪˈmjunəti/
protection from disease, obligation, or legal liability
inpatient
C2+
/ˈɪnˌpeɪʃənt/
a patient who stays in a hospital while receiving treatment
inviolate
C2+
/ɪnˈvaɪələt/
free from violation, injury, or desecration; intact
maladive
C2+
/ˈmælədɪv/
sickly; tending toward illness
medicinal
C2+
/məˈdɪsənəl/
having healing properties; relating to medicine
morbid
C2+
/ˈmɔrbɪd/
abnormally preoccupied with death or disease; gruesome
morbific
C2+
/mɔrˈbɪfɪk/
causing or producing disease
murrain
C2+
/ˈmɜrɪn/
an infectious disease affecting cattle or other livestock
obstetrics
C2+
/əbˈstɛtrɪks/
the branch of medicine concerned with childbirth and pregnancy care
pestilence
C2+
/ˈpɛstɪləns/
a fatal epidemic disease, especially the plague
prophylactic
C2+
/ˌproʊfəˈlæktɪk/
intended to prevent disease; a preventive measure or device
reparation
C2+
/ˌrɛpəˈreɪʃən/
compensation made for a wrong or injury; the act of making amends
retaliation
C2+
/rɪˌtæliˈeɪʃən/
the act of returning an injury or wrong for one received; reprisal
scald
C2+
/skɔld/
to burn with hot liquid or steam; an injury so caused
seizure
C2+
/ˈsiʒɚ/
a sudden attack of illness; the act of taking forcible possession
sniffle
C2+
/ˈsnɪfəl/
to draw air audibly through the nose, as when crying or sick
trank
C2+
/træŋk/
slang for a tranquilizer or sedative drug
treatable
C2+
/ˈtriːtəbəl/
able to be cured or managed by medical or other treatment
vaccinate
C2+
/ˈvæksɪneɪt/
to treat with a vaccine to produce immunity against a disease
vengeance
C2+
/ˈvɛndʒəns/
punishment inflicted in retaliation for an injury or offense
victimization
C2+
/ˌvɪktɪməˈzeɪʃən/
the act of making someone a victim through harm or unfair treatment
wellness
C2+
/ˈwɛl.nəs/
the state of being in good health, especially as actively pursued
microcephalous
C2+
/ˌmaɪkroʊˈsɛfələs/
having an abnormally small head, usually as a result of microcephaly; also used comparatively in anatomy
anaesthesis
C2+
/ˌænəsˈθiːsɪs/
loss or absence of bodily sensation; insensibility
defibrinate
C2+
/dɪˈfaɪbɹɪneɪt/
to remove fibrin from blood, preventing or reducing clot formation
medico-jurist
C2+
/ˌmɛdɪkoʊˈdʒʊrɪst/
dated: a physician or medical expert who applies medical knowledge to legal questions; a specialist in medical jurisprudence
deliquium
C2+
/dɪˈlɪkwiəm/
archaic: a sudden lapse, failure, or collapse of physical strength, consciousness, or mental powers
ebriosity
C2+
/ˌiːbriˈɑsəti/
rare: drunkenness or intoxication, especially as a habitual condition
astigmat
C2+
/əˈstɪɡmæt/
rare or technical: a person who has astigmatism
ankylose
C2+
/ˈæŋkɪloʊz/
medicine: to cause bones or a joint to become fused, rigid, or abnormally stiff
insomniast
C2+
/ɪnˈsɑmniˌæst/
a person who suffers from insomnia; a rare term for an insomniac