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.
Choose your level
View all levels
229 words
nostrum
C2
/ˈnɑ.stɹəm/
a medicine of secret or doubtful composition that is promoted as an effective remedy
morbidity
C2
/mɔːrˈbɪd.ə.t̬i/
an unhealthy or excessive interest in gloomy or disturbing subjects, especially illness and death
harelip
C2
/ˈhɛrˌlɪp/
dated and sometimes offensive: a cleft lip, a congenital opening or split in the upper lip
deplete
C2
/dɪˈplit/
To reduce the amount of; to remove (a substance from something)
colicky
C2
/ˈkɑːlɪki/
suffering from colic or repeated abdominal pain
hypochondria
C2
/ˌhaɪpoʊˈkɑndriə/
persistent, excessive anxiety that one has or may develop a serious illness; now a nontechnical or dated term
analgesic
C2
/ˌænəlˈdʒiːsɪk/
Any medicine, such as aspirin, that reduces pain, especially without inducing a loss of other sensation. (Contrast anesthetic.)
whitlow
C2
/ˈʍɪt.loʊ/
a painful infection or inflammation near the end of a finger or toe, especially around or beneath the nail
pleurisy
C2
/ˈplʊrəsi/
inflammation of the pleura around the lungs, typically causing sharp pain during breathing
miasma
C2
/maɪˈæzmə/
unhealthy vapors rising from the ground or other sources
locum
C2
/ˈloʊkəm/
chiefly British: a professional, especially a doctor, who temporarily performs another person's duties
consumptive
C2
/kənˈsʌmptɪv/
affected by or characteristic of pulmonary tuberculosis
dropsy
C2
/ˈdrɑːpsi/
historical medicine: edema, or swelling caused by excess fluid in body tissues
intransigent
C2
/ɪnˈtɹæn.sə.d͡ʒənt/
Unwilling to compromise or moderate a position; unreasonable.
dotage
C2
/ˈdoʊtɪdʒ/
a period or state of old age marked by declining mental ability or judgment
arnica
C2
/ˈɑrnɪkə/
a plant of the daisy family, especially Arnica montana, traditionally used in herbal remedies
somatic
C2
/səˈmætɪk/
Part of, or relating to the body of an organism.
purgative
C2
/ˈpɝːɡətɪv/
causing the bowels to empty, or more broadly cleansing something of unwanted matter or emotion
cautery
C2
/ˈkɔtəri/
the medical destruction or sealing of tissue by heat, cold, electricity, or a caustic substance, especially to stop bleeding
emetic
C2
/ɪˈmɛtɪk/
a substance or medicine that causes vomiting
convulsive
C2
/kənˈvʌlsɪv/
resembling a convulsion in being sudden and violent
rectus
C2
/ˈrɛktəs/
any of several relatively straight muscles, usually named more fully for their location, such as the rectus abdominis or rectus femoris
excision
C2
/ekˈsɪʒ.ən/
the surgical removal of an organ, tumor, or other body tissue by cutting
hydrophobia
C2
/ˌhaɪdrəˈfoʊbiə/
rabies, especially as formerly named for the painful difficulty in swallowing liquids that it can cause
somnambulist
C2
/sɑmˈnæmbjəlɪst/
a person who walks while asleep
bezoar
C2
/ˈbi.zɔɹ/
a compact mass of swallowed hair, plant fibre, or other indigestible material formed in a human or animal digestive tract
globus
C2
/ˈɡləʊbəs/
medicine: a persistent sensation of a lump or tightness in the throat when no physical obstruction is present
palpitation
C2
/ˌpæl.pəˈteɪ.ʃən/
a heartbeat that feels unusually rapid, strong, fluttering, or irregular, especially when noticed by the person experiencing it
septicaemia
C2
/ˌsɛptɪˈsiːmiə/
chiefly British: a serious infection involving pathogenic microorganisms in the bloodstream; blood poisoning
salutary
C2
/ˈsæljətɛɹi/
Effecting or designed to effect an improvement; remedial.
decoction
C2
/dɪˈkɑkʃən/
a medicinal or herbal liquid made by boiling plant material in water
catarrh
C2
/kəˈtɑr/
inflammation of a mucous membrane, especially in the nose or throat, accompanied by excessive mucus; now chiefly a dated medical term
pathogenic
C2
/pæθəˈd͡ʒɛnɪk/
Able to cause (harmful) disease.
puna
C2
/ˈpuːnɑː/
altitude sickness experienced on the high Andes, marked by symptoms such as breathlessness, headache, or nausea
leprous
C2
/ˈlɛprəs/
affected by or relating to leprosy
glanders
C2
/ˈɡlændɚz/
a contagious and sometimes fatal disease of horses, mules, and donkeys, caused by Burkholderia mallei and transmissible to humans
ptomaine
C2
/ˈtoʊ.meɪn/
any of several amines, such as putrescine or cadaverine, produced when bacteria decompose animal or plant matter
convulse
C2
/kənˈvʌls/
to shake or contract violently in sudden, involuntary movements
sickroom
C2
/ˈsɪkˌruːm/
a room in which an ill or injured person is cared for or confined while recovering
hypertrophy
C2
/haɪˈpɝː.trə.fi/
an increase in the size of an organ or tissue caused by enlargement of its cells
anodyne
C2
/ˈæn.ə.daɪn/
capable of relieving pain
pleura
C2
/ˈplʊɹ.ə/
the thin serous membrane around the lungs and inner walls of the chest
morphia
C2
/ˈmɔrfiə/
morphine, especially under its older medical name
scrofula
C2
/ˈskrɑfjələ/
dated: tuberculosis of the lymph nodes, especially those of the neck; cervical tuberculous lymphadenitis
pustule
C2
/ˈpʌstjuːl/
a small raised lesion on the skin containing pus
spasmodic
C2
/spæzˈmɑ.dɪk/
happening suddenly and irregularly in short bursts
distension
C2
/dɪˈstɛnʃən/
the state of being swollen, enlarged, or stretched by pressure from within
dyspepsia
C2
/dɪsˈpepsiə/
pain, discomfort, bloating, nausea, or heartburn arising from the upper digestive tract; indigestion
malarial
C2
/məˈlɛɹiəl/
relating to, caused by, or affected with malaria
quackery
C2
/ˈkwækəri/
fraudulent or scientifically unsound medical practice, treatment, or advice
truculent
C2
/ˈtɹʌk.jə.lənt/
defiantly aggressive
mollify
C2
/ˈmɒlɪfaɪ/
To ease a burden, particularly to ease a worry; make less painful; to comfort.
paroxysm
C2
/ˈpɛɹəkˌsɪzəm/
a sudden uncontrollable attack
cataleptic
C2
/ˌkætəˈlɛptɪk/
of or having characteristics of or affected with catalepsy
dipsomaniac
C2
/ˌdɪpsəˈmeɪniˌæk/
a person with an uncontrollable or habitual craving for alcohol; an old-fashioned term
nauseate
C2
/ˈnɔːziˌeɪt/
to make someone feel sick or as if they are going to vomit
oculist
C2
/ˈɑkjəlɪst/
dated: a specialist who diagnoses or treats eye disorders or tests vision
gadfly
C2
/ˈɡædˌflaɪ/
A person who takes without giving back; a bloodsucker.
purulent
C2
/ˈpjʊəɹ(j)ʊlənt/
containing, consisting of, or characterized by pus, usually as a result of infection
colchicine
C2
/ˈkɑl.tʃəˌsiːn/
a toxic alkaloid obtained from Colchicum plants and used in controlled doses to treat gout and certain inflammatory conditions
recuperative
C2
/rɪˈkuːpɝətɪv/
Helping someone recover their health or strength.
photophobia
C2
/ˌfoʊtəˈfoʊbiə/
abnormal sensitivity or intolerance to light, often causing eye pain or discomfort
dietetic
C2
/ˌdaɪ.əˈtɛt.ɪk/
relating to diet, nutrition, or the regulation of food for health
chorea
C2
/ˈkʰorɪjɑ/
any of several degenerative nervous disorders characterized by spasmodic movements of the body and limbs
erysipelas
C2
/ˌɛɹ.əˈsɪp.əl.əs/
a bacterial skin infection causing a sharply defined, painful red rash, fever, and swelling
analgesia
C2
/ˌæn.əlˈd͡ʒiː.ʒə/
The inability to feel pain.
ophthalmic
C2
/ɑfˈθæl.mɪk/
relating to the eye, its diseases, or their medical treatment
phlegmatic
C2
/flɛɡˈmætɪk/
Not easily excited to action or passion; calm; sluggish.
rheum
C2
/ruːm/
a thin watery discharge of mucus or serum, especially from the eyes or nose
paresis
C2
/pəˈriːsəs/
slight or partial paralysis; weakness of voluntary movement without complete loss of it
valvular
C2
/ˈvælvjʊlə(ɹ)/
relating to or operating by means of valves
insula
C2
/ˈɪnsələ/
a region of the cerebral cortex folded deep within the lateral sulcus, involved in integrating bodily sensation, emotion, and other functions
trepanning
C2
/trɪˈpæn.ɪŋ/
the surgical act or process of boring or cutting an opening in the skull or another hard structure
nutritive
C2
/ˈnuːtrətɪv/
relating to nutrition or the nourishment of an organism
anaesthetize
C2
/əˈnɛsθətaɪz/
to administer an anaesthetic to a person or animal, making them insensitive to pain or unconscious
internecine
C2
/ˌɪntɚˈnɛsin/
characterized by bloodshed and carnage for both sides
phthisis
C2
/ˈθaɪ.sɪs/
dated medicine: a progressive wasting disease, especially pulmonary tuberculosis
pharmacopoeia
C2
/ˌfɑrməkəˈpiə/
an official reference work that lists medicines and standards or instructions for their preparation, identification, and use
palpitate
C2
/ˈpælpɪteɪt/
of the heart: to beat rapidly, strongly, or irregularly, especially from exertion or emotion
debility
C2
/dəˈbɪləti/
physical or mental weakness, especially weakness caused by illness or age
acclimatization
C2
/əˌklaɪ.mə.t̬əˈzeɪ.ʃən/
the process of becoming adjusted to a new climate, altitude, or other environmental conditions
tetter
C2
/ˈtɛtɚ/
archaic: any of various itching, scaly, blistering, or pustular skin eruptions, without the precision of a modern diagnosis
neurasthenic
C2
/ˌnʊɹəsˈθɛnɪk/
historical medicine: relating to or affected by neurasthenia, a diagnosis involving fatigue, weakness, and nervous symptoms
hemiplegia
C2
/ˌhem.ɪˈpli.dʒə/
paralysis of one side of the body
headachy
C2
/ˈhɛdˌeɪ.ki/
suffering from a headache
tuberculous
C2
/tuˈbɝkjələs/
constituting or afflicted with or caused by tuberculosis or the tubercle bacillus
trephine
C2
/tɹɪˈfaɪn/
a surgical instrument with a cylindrical cutting edge for removing a circular section of bone or other tissue
therapeutics
C2
/ˌθɛrəˈpjuːtɪks/
the branch of medicine concerned with treating disease and relieving symptoms
quinsy
C2
/ˈkwɪn.zi/
a painful abscess beside a tonsil, usually occurring as a complication of tonsillitis
parturition
C2
/ˌpɑːrtʃəˈrɪʃən/
the process of giving birth to a child or young animal
formulary
C2
/ˈfɔːrmjəleri/
an official list of medicines approved for use or covered by a health plan
pastille
C2
/pæsˈtil/
a small medicated lozenge sucked to soothe the throat or release medicinal vapors
sangfroid
C2
/sɑŋˈfɹɑ/
Composure, self-possession or imperturbability especially when in a dangerous situation.
albinism
C2
/ˈæl.bɪ.nɪ.zəm/
a group of inherited conditions involving little or no production of melanin pigment in the skin, hair, and eyes
footsore
C2
/ˈfʊtsɔːr/
having painful or tired feet, especially after walking a long distance
scurf
C2
/skɝːf/
flakes or scales shed from the surface of the skin, especially as dandruff or because of disease