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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237 words
denotation
C2
/ˌdiː.noʊˈteɪ.ʃən/
The direct, literal meaning of a word, as opposed to the feelings it suggests.
confute
C2
/kənˈfjuːt/
to prove a claim, argument, or person wrong by evidence or reasoning; to refute conclusively
soliloquize
C2
/səˈlɪləˌkwaɪz/
To talk to oneself, especially aloud and at length.
incoherency
C2
/ˌɪnkoʊˈhɪrənsi/
lack of logical connection, clarity, or orderly organization
exoteric
C2
/ˌɛksəˈtɛɹɪk/
intended or suitable for the general public rather than a restricted inner circle
ventriloquize
C2
/venˈtrɪl.ə.kwaɪz/
to practice ventriloquism, making one's voice seem to come from another source
misname
C2
/ˌmɪsˈneɪm/
to call someone or something by an incorrect, unsuitable, or misleading name
emendation
C2
/ˌiːmɛnˈdeɪʃən/
a correction by emending
exordium
C2
/ɛɡˈzɔrdiəm/
the introductory part of a speech, essay, or other formal discourse
unreserve
C2
/ˌʌn.rɪˈzɝːv/
absence of restraint or concealment in speech or behavior; complete frankness or openness (formal or literary)
garrulity
C2
/ɡəˈɹuːləti/
the quality of talking excessively, especially about unimportant things
stylographic
C2
/ˌstaɪləˈɡræfɪk/
relating to writing or drawing with a stylus or similar pointed instrument
declaimer
C2
/dɪˈkleɪmər/
a person who delivers a forceful, theatrical, or rhetorical speech
depreciatory
C2
/dɪˈpriːʃiəˌtɔːri/
expressing a low opinion of someone or something; disparaging
infelicity
C2
/ˌɪnfəˈlɪsəti/
an awkward, inappropriate, or ill-chosen expression, action, or detail
summarizer
C2
/ˈsʌməˌraɪzɚ/
a person, program, or other thing that condenses material into a summary
jocosity
C2
/dʒoʊˈkɑːsəti/
the quality or practice of merry joking
sophister
C2
/ˈsɑːfɪstɚ/
dated or rare: a person who uses clever but fallacious or misleading arguments; a sophist
cedilla
C2
/səˈdɪlə/
a diacritical mark, often similar to a comma, placed below the letter c to indicate that it is pronounced as an s
homiletics
C2
The art of preaching (especially the application of rhetoric in theology).
malapropism
C2
/ˈmæləpɹɑpˌɪzəm/
The blundering use of an absurdly inappropriate word or expression in place of a similar-sounding one.
unconciliatory
C2
/ˌʌnkənˈsɪliətɔri/
not intended or likely to end disagreement or restore goodwill; unwilling to compromise
promulgator
C2
/ˈprɑː.məlˌɡeɪ.tɚ/
a person who publicly proclaims, publishes, or spreads a law, doctrine, or idea
vociferation
C2
/voʊˌsɪf.əˈreɪ.ʃən/
the act or sound of shouting loudly and vehemently; a clamorous outcry
misstate
C2
/mɪsˈsteɪt/
to state, report, or describe something incorrectly or misleadingly
divagation
C2
/ˌdaɪ.vəˈɡeɪ.ʃən/
a departure from the main subject in speech or writing; a digression
attributive
C2
/əˈtɹɪ.bju.tɪv/
Describing a word, usually an adjective, that comes directly before the noun it modifies.
illiberality
C2
An illiberal word or action
subjoin
C2
/səbˈdʒɔɪn/
to add something at the end of a spoken or written work; to append
assentation
C2
/ˌæsɛnˈteɪʃən/
rare: ready, servile, or insincere agreement offered to flatter or please someone
referable
C2
/rɪˈfɝəbəl/
capable of being attributed or related to a particular cause, source, or category
eristic
C2
/ɪˈrɪstɪk/
characterized by argumentative, often specious reasoning intended to win rather than discover truth
querist
C2
/ˈkwɪrɪst/
formal or archaic: a person who asks a question or makes an inquiry
polysynthetic
C2
/ˌpɑːlisɪnˈθɛtɪk/
linguistics: describing a language or word structure in which single words typically contain many morphemes and can express sentence-like meanings
panegyrist
C2
/ˌpænəˈdʒɪrɪst/
a person who composes or delivers a panegyric, praising someone or something formally and often extravagantly
romanize
C2
/ˈɹoʊmənaɪz/
to represent a language or text in the Latin alphabet by transcription or transliteration
undiscussable
C2
/ˌʌndɪsˈkʌsəbəl/
unable or considered unsuitable to be discussed, mentioned, or debated
gainsayer
C2
/ˈɡeɪnˌseɪɚ/
a person who contradicts, denies, or opposes a claim
asserter
C2
/əˈsɝtɚ/
a person who states or maintains a claim firmly and positively
controversialist
C2
/ˌkɑntrəˈvɝʃəlɪst/
a person who regularly engages in public controversy or polemical debate
interpellate
C2
/ˌɪntɚˈpɛleɪt/
formal: to interrupt or address someone with a question or challenge
Santali
C2
/sænˈtɑːli/
an Austroasiatic language spoken chiefly by Santal communities in eastern India, Bangladesh, and Nepal
lexicographical
C2
/ˌlɛksɪkəˈɡɹæfɪkəl/
relating to the writing, editing, or study of dictionaries
enthymeme
C2
/ˈɛnθəˌmiːm/
rhetoric: an argument resembling a syllogism in which a premise or conclusion is left unstated
homophony
C2
/həˈmɑfəni/
the relation or quality of words having the same pronunciation but different meanings or origins