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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.
585 words
oligarchy
C2
/ˈɑːlɪˌɡɑɹki/
a political system governed by a few people
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lyricist
C2
/ˈlɪɹ.ɪsɪst/
A person who writes the words for songs.
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misanthrope
C2
/ˈmɪs.ənˌθɹoʊp/
One who has a negative view of the entire human race.
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disciplinarian
C2
/ˌdɪsəplɪˈnɛriən/
a person who enforces strict rules and expects obedience, often through punishment
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groomsman
C2
/ˈɡruːmzmən/
a man who attends and supports a bridegroom at a wedding
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cowherd
C2
/ˈkaʊˌhɝd/
a person whose work is tending and herding cattle
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croaker
C2
/ˈkɹoʊkɚ/
dated: a habitual complainer or a person who gloomily predicts trouble
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milliner
C2
/ˈmɪl.ə.nɚ/
a person who designs, makes, or sells women's hats
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onus
C2
/ˈoʊnəs/
a responsibility, duty, or burden placed on someone
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sentimentalist
C2
/ˌsɛn.təˈmɛn.təl.ɪst/
a person who is excessively influenced by tender, nostalgic, or idealized feelings
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lurker
C2
/ˈlɝ.kɚ/
a person who reads or observes an online community without posting or participating
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crony
C2
/ˈkɹoʊni/
A close friend or companion, often one who shares in someone's activities.
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flathead
C2
/ˈflætˌhɛd/
dated US slang, insulting: a stupid or foolish person
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adornment
C2
/əˈdɔːnm(ə)nt/
Something added to make a person or thing more attractive; a decoration.
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sacristan
C2
/ˈsækɹɪstən/
The person who maintains the sacristy and the sacred objects it contains.
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landsman
C2
/ˈlændzmən/
a person who lives or works on land rather than at sea, especially one who lacks a sailor's skills or experience
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malcontent
C2
/ˌmæl.kənˈtɛnt/
a person who is dissatisfied with existing conditions, especially one who actively opposes an established authority or system
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locum
C2
/ˈloʊkəm/
chiefly British: a professional, especially a doctor, who temporarily performs another person's duties
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newsboy
C2
/ˈnuːzˌbɔɪ/
historical: a boy or young man who sells or delivers newspapers
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schadenfreude
C2
/ˈʃɑː.dənˌfɹɔɪ.də/
Malicious enjoyment derived from observing someone else's misfortune.
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anachronism
C2
/əˈnækrəˌnɪzəm/
a person, object, or detail placed in the wrong historical period
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deputation
C2
/ˌdɛpjəˈteɪʃən/
a group of people appointed to represent others or present a request
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haunch
C2
/hɑntʃ/
the hip, buttock, and upper thigh on one side of a person or animal
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gibbet
C2
/ˈdʒɪbɪt/
historical: a gallows or similar framework used to hang a person or display an executed person's body
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goatherd
C2
/ˈɡoʊthɝːd/
a person who tends, guards, and guides a herd of goats
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troglodyte
C2
/ˈtrɑːɡləˌdaɪt/
a person who lives in a cave, especially a supposed or prehistoric cave-dweller
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tribesman
C2
/ˈtraɪbzmæn/
a male member of a tribe or tribal community
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onlooker
C2
/ˈɒnˌlʊk.ə(ɹ)/
a person who watches an event without taking part
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patronymic
C2
/ˌpætrəˈnɪmɪk/
a name derived from the given name of a person's father or a male ancestor
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humorist
C2
/ˈhjuː.mə.rɪst/
a person known for creating, writing, or performing humor, especially one who regularly tells amusing stories
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prater
C2
/ˈpɹeɪtɚ/
a person who talks at length in a foolish, trivial, or irritating way
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sepulcher
C2
/ˈsepəlkɚ/
literary or historical: a tomb, grave, or chamber in which a dead person is buried
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queller
C2
/ˈkwɛlɚ/
a person or thing that suppresses, subdues, or puts an end to resistance, disorder, or a strong feeling
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tinkler
C2
/ˈtɪŋklɚ/
British dialect, dated and sometimes offensive: an itinerant tinker, traveler, or member of a traveling community
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easement
C2
/ˈiːz.mənt/
law: a right to cross or use another person's land for a specified purpose without owning it
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mountebank
C2
/ˈmaʊn.tə.bæŋk/
a charlatan who deceives people with flamboyant claims or performances
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wielder
C2
/ˈwiːldər/
A person who wields something, especially power
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rostrum
C2
/ˈɹɑstɹəm/
a raised platform for a public speaker, conductor, or other prominent person
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slattern
C2
/ˈslætɚn/
One who is uncareful or unconcerned about appearance or surroundings, usually said of a dirty and untidy woman.
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rapscallion
C2
/ræpˈskæljən/
a dishonest, disreputable, or mischievous person; a rascal or scoundrel
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hotelier
C2
/hoʊˈtɛl.i.əɹ/
A person who owns or manages a hotel.
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benefactress
C2
/ˈbɛnəˌfæktɹəs/
a woman who gives money or other help to a person or cause; now often replaced by the gender-neutral benefactor
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monogamist
C2
/məˈnɑːɡəmɪst/
a person who has only one spouse or romantic partner at a time, or who advocates that practice
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testator
C2
/ˈtɛˌsteɪtər/
law: a person who has made a legally valid will
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pedlar
C2
someone who travels about selling his wares (as on the streets or at carnivals)
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hanger-on
C2
/ˈhæŋɚˌɑn/
a person who stays close to someone powerful, wealthy, or famous in the hope of gaining status or advantage
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Hottentot
C2
/ˈhɑːtənˌtɑːt/
a dated and derogatory colonial name for a Khoikhoi or Khoekhoe person of southern Africa
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transcriber
C2
/trænˈskraɪ.bɚ/
a person who converts speech, handwriting, or recorded material into written or typed text
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swineherd
C2
/ˈswaɪnˌhɝd/
a person who herds, tends, and cares for pigs
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fijian
C2
/fiˈdʒiːən/
a person from Fiji or of Fijian descent
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shaper
C2
/ˈʃeɪ.pɚ/
a person, force, or thing that gives form or character to something
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wagoner
C2
/ˈwægənɝ/
a person who drives or transports goods with a wagon
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peignoir
C2
/peɪnˈwɑːr/
a woman's loose dressing gown, often light or sheer
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charwoman
C2
/ˈtʃɑːrwʊmən/
a woman hired, traditionally by the day or hour, to clean a house or other building; dated
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gentlefolk
C2
/ˈdʒɛntəlˌfoʊk/
historical: people considered well-born, genteel, or of high social rank
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forelock
C2
/ˈfɔrˌlɑk/
a lock of hair that grows or falls over a person's forehead
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coxcomb
C2
/ˈkɒks.koʊm/
dated: a vain, conceited man excessively concerned with his appearance
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somnambulist
C2
/sɑmˈnæmbjəlɪst/
a person who walks while asleep
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cabman
C2
/ˈkæb.mən/
historical: a man who drove a horse-drawn cab for hire
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wayfarer
C2
/ˈweɪˌfɛrər/
literary: a person traveling from place to place, especially on foot
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palpitation
C2
/ˌpæl.pəˈteɪ.ʃən/
a heartbeat that feels unusually rapid, strong, fluttering, or irregular, especially when noticed by the person experiencing it
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townsman
C2
/ˈtaʊnzmən/
a person from the same town as yourself
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Jacobin
C2
/ˈdʒækəbɪn/
a member or supporter of the radical Jacobin Club during the French Revolution, or by extension a radical political reformer
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octogenarian
C2
/ˌɑktəd͡ʒɪˈnɛɹiən/
A person between 80 and 89 years old.
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headsman
C2
/ˈhɛdzmən/
historical: an executioner who puts condemned people to death by beheading
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polyglot
C2
/ˈpɑlɪˌɡlɑt/
a person who can speak or use several languages
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idiosyncrasy
C2
/ˌɪdiəˈsɪŋkɹəsi/
An unusual habit or feature that is typical of one particular person.
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mutineer
C2
/ˌmjuː.tənˈɪr/
a person who takes part in a mutiny, especially a sailor or soldier rebelling collectively against commanding officers
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selectman
C2
/səˈlɛktmən/
a member of an elected board that serves as the chief administrative authority of a New England town
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dentition
C2
/dɛnˈtɪʃən/
the number, kinds, and arrangement of teeth in a person or animal
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churchman
C2
/ˈtʃɝːtʃmən/
a male member of the clergy or another man holding authority in a Christian church
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plenipotentiary
C2
/plɛn.ɪ.poʊˈtɛn.ʃ(i)əɹ.i/
A person invested with full powers, especially as the diplomatic agent of a sovereign state, (originally) charged with handling a certain matter.
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horsewoman
C2
/ˈhɔːrsˌwʊm.ən/
a woman who rides horses, especially one skilled in riding or managing them
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concurrence
C2
/kənˈkɝːəns/
Agreement between people or in their opinions.
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stonecutter
C2
/ˈstoʊnˌkʌtɚ/
a person who cuts, carves, or dresses stone
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sluggard
C2
/ˈslʌɡ.ɚd/
a habitually lazy or idle person, especially one slow to begin necessary work
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plutocrat
C2
/ˈpluːtəˌkræt/
A person who holds power because of their great wealth.
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lamplighter
C2
/ˈlæmˌplaɪtɝ/
A person employed to light streetlights at dusk and snuff them at dawn.
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lubber
C2
/ˈlʌb.ɚ/
dated or insulting: a large, clumsy, lazy, or foolish person
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baldhead
C2
/ˈbɔːldˌhɛd/
dated: a person with a bald head
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cenotaph
C2
/ˈsɛnəˌtæf/
a monument honoring a dead person or group whose remains are buried elsewhere or cannot be recovered
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appellation
C2
/ˌæpəˈleɪʃən/
A name or title by which someone is addressed or identified; a designation.
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emulation
C2
/ˌɛm.juˈleɪ̯.ʃən/
The effort to match or do as well as someone you admire.
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wiseacre
C2
/ˈwaɪzˌeɪkɚ/
old-fashioned or informal: a person who pretends to be knowledgeable or makes conceitedly clever remarks
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interlocutor
C2
/ˌɪn.təɹˈlɑk.jə.təɹ/
A person who takes part in dialogue or conversation: a locutive partner.
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nurturer
C2
/ˈnɝtʃərɚ/
a person who cares for, supports, or encourages the growth and development of someone or something
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Aymara
C2
/ˌaɪ.mɑˈɹɑ/
a member of an Indigenous people of the central Andes, especially in Bolivia, Peru, and northern Chile
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Guarani
C2
/ˌɡwɑːrəˈniː/
a member of any of several Indigenous Guarani peoples of South America
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dipsomaniac
C2
/ˌdɪpsəˈmeɪniˌæk/
a person with an uncontrollable or habitual craving for alcohol; an old-fashioned term
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sharer
C2
/ˈʃɛrɚ/
a person who gives, receives, uses, or possesses part of something jointly with others
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felicitation
C2
/fəˌlɪsəˈteɪʃən/
formal and usually plural: an expression of congratulation, pleasure, or good wishes offered for someone's success or good fortune
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epicure
C2
/ˈɛpɪkjʊr/
a person with refined and discriminating tastes, especially in food and wine
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gadfly
C2
/ˈɡædˌflaɪ/
A person who takes without giving back; a bloodsucker.
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pre-raphaelite
C2
/ˌpriːˈræf.i.ə.laɪt/
a member or follower of the nineteenth-century Pre-Raphaelite movement in British art
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holograph
C2
/ˈhɑləɡræf/
a document written entirely in the handwriting of the person named as its author or signer
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blackamoor
C2
/ˈblæk.əˌmɔɹ/
historical and offensive: an obsolete racial label for a Black person, especially one perceived as African or North African; also formerly used for a Black servant
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