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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36 words
informant
C2
/ɪnˈfɔɹmənt/
A person who secretly gives information, especially to the police.
viva
C2
/ˈvaɪvə/
chiefly British: an oral examination, especially one for an academic degree
proctor
C2
/ˈprɑːk.tɚ/
especially in the US, a person who supervises an examination to prevent cheating
devious
C2
/ˈdiː.vi.əs/
deviating from a straight course
headmistress
C2
/ˈhɛdˌmɪstrəs/
A woman who is in charge of a school.
physiological
C2
/ˌfɪz.i.əˈlɑ.d͡ʒɪ.kəl/
Relating to how the body and its organs normally work.
dictation
C2
/dɪkˈteɪʃən/
the act of speaking words for another person or a device to write or record
extracurricular
C2
/ˌɛkstɹəkəˈɹɪkjʊlə(ɹ)/
Outside the regular school or college curriculum.
awry
C2
/əˈɹɑɪ/
away from the correct or expected course
methodology
C2
/ˌmɛθ.əˈdɑ.lə.d͡ʒi/
The set of methods and procedures used to do something in a particular field.
truant
C2
/ˈtɹuənt/
a pupil who stays away from school without permission
vocational
C2
/voʊˈkeɪʃənəl/
Relating to a job, or to the skills and training needed for a particular kind of work.
meteorological
C2
/ˌmitiəɹəˈlɑd͡ʒɪkl̩/
Relating to the weather or the study of the weather.
inexperience
C2
/ˌɪnɪkˈspɪriːəns/
lack of experience and the knowledge and understanding derived from experience
scholarly
C2
/ˈskɑːlɝli/
Connected with serious academic study and research
lyceum
C2
/laɪˈsiːəm/
a hall or association providing public lectures, debates, readings, or concerts
refectory
C2
/rɪˈfɛktəri/
a communal dining hall in a monastery, school, college, or other institution
pedagogue
C2
/ˈped.ə.ɡɑːɡ/
a teacher, especially one who is strict, formal, or old-fashioned
impressionistic
C2
/ˌɪmˌprɛʃəˈnɪstɪk/
Based on personal impressions and feelings rather than careful facts or research.
stoicism
C2
/ˈstoʊɪsɪzəm/
The quality of accepting pain or hardship calmly, without complaining.
copybook
C2
/ˈkɑpiˌbʊk/
historical: a school exercise book containing models of handwriting for a pupil to copy
classicist
C2
/ˈklæs.ɪ.sɪst/
a scholar who studies the languages, literature, and cultures of ancient Greece and Rome
pedantry
C2
/ˈpɛdəntri/
an ostentatious or ill-timed display of learning
obscurantism
C2
/əbˈskjʊrəntɪzəm/
deliberate opposition to the spread of knowledge, education, reform, or public understanding
aitch
C2
/eɪtʃ/
the name of the Latin-script letter H or h
pedagogic
C2
/ˌpɛdəˈɡɑd͡ʒɪk/
of or relating to pedagogy
precocity
C2
/prɪˈkɑsəti/
unusually early development of intelligence, talent, or maturity
orthography
C2
/ɔɹˈθɑɡɹəfi/
the conventional spelling and writing system of a language
methodological
C2
/ˌmɛθ.ə.dəˈlɑ.d͡ʒɪ.kəl/
Relating to the methods used in research or in a particular field.
inculcation
C2
/ˌɪnkʌlˈkeɪʃən/
the process of firmly instilling an idea, value, or habit through persistent instruction or repetition
conversazione
C2
/ˌkɑnvɚsɑtsiˈoʊni/
a formal social gathering devoted to discussion of literature, art, science, or another learned subject
schoolman
C2
/ˈskuːl.mən/
historical: a medieval scholar or teacher, especially one associated with scholastic philosophy or theology
methodologically
C2
In a way that relates to the methods used in research.
lucubration
C2
/ˌluː.kjəˈbreɪ.ʃən/
intensive, prolonged, or laborious study or thought, historically especially work done late at night
propaedeutic
C2
/ˌproʊpɪˈduːtɪk/
preparatory or introductory to a more advanced field of study
sizar
C2
/ˈsaɪzər/
historical: a Cambridge or Trinity College Dublin student receiving financial support, sometimes in return for duties