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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111 words
spencer
C2
/ˈspɛnsɚ/
A short, close-fitting jacket primarily worn by women and children in the early 19th century.
blouse
C2
/blaʊs/
a shirt or lightweight upper garment, especially one made for women or girls
dung
C2
/ˈdʌŋ/
fertilize or dress with dung
mercer
C2
/ˈmɝsɚ/
historical: a merchant who dealt in textiles, especially silk and other fine cloth
prone
C2
/pɹoʊn/
Likely to do or suffer something, especially something bad.
topless
C2
/ˈtɑːpləs/
having the chest or breasts uncovered
nudity
C2
/ˈnuːdɪti/
the state of wearing no clothes; nakedness
cowl
C2
/kaʊl/
a large loose hood, especially one attached to a monk's robe
attire
C2
/əˈtaɪɚ/
clothing of a distinctive style or for a particular occasion
brooch
C2
/bɹoʊt͡ʃ/
an ornamental pin or clasp worn on clothing
cosmetic
C2
/kɑːzˈmɛtɪk/
a preparation applied to the body, especially the face or hair, to clean it or improve its appearance
nightgown
C2
/ˈnaɪtˌɡaʊn/
a loose garment, especially a dresslike one, worn in bed
boa
C2
/ˈboʊ.ə/
a long decorative scarf made of feathers, fur, or a similar fluffy material
spruce
C2
/spɹuːs/
dress and groom with particular care, as for a special occasion
turban
C2
/ˈtɝ.bən/
a head covering made by winding a long piece of cloth around the head, worn especially in several South Asian and religious traditions
bathrobe
C2
/ˈbæθˌɹoʊb/
a loose robe, often made of absorbent cloth, worn before or after bathing or while relaxing at home
muff
C2
/mʌf/
a tube of fur or warm fabric into which both hands are placed for warmth
henna
C2
/ˈhɛnə/
a reddish-brown dye made from the powdered leaves of the henna plant, used to color hair or decorate skin
britches
C2
/ˈbrɪtʃɪz/
informal or dialectal: trousers; especially breeches
seam
C2
/siːm/
a line where two pieces of cloth, leather, or similar material are joined, usually by sewing
poncho
C2
/ˈpɑntʃoʊ/
a cloak made from a single piece of fabric with an opening for the head, traditionally worn in South America
tunic
C2
/ˈtunɪk/
a loose garment for the torso, typically reaching from the shoulders to the hips or knees
drape
C2
/dɹeɪp/
the manner in which fabric hangs or falls
trig
C2
/trɪɡ/
dated or dialectal: neat, trim, and smart in appearance
shaver
C2
/ˈʃeɪvɚ/
a tool or machine used for shaving, especially an electric razor
breeches
C2
/ˈbrɪtʃɪz/
short trousers fastened at or just below the knee, historically worn by men and now especially for riding
smock
C2
/smɑk/
a loose garment worn over other clothes to protect them, traditionally by artists, workers, or farm laborers
bandana
C2
/bænˈdænə/
a large, usually colorful square of cloth worn around the head or neck
bangle
C2
/ˈbæŋ.ɡəl/
a stiff ornamental bracelet or anklet, usually slipped over the hand or foot or closed with a clasp
finery
C2
/ˈfaɪnəɹi/
showy, elegant, or elaborate clothes, jewellery, and ornaments
bodice
C2
/ˈbɑːdɪs/
the fitted upper part of a woman's dress, above the waist
passé
C2
/pæˈseɪ/
no longer fashionable, current, or generally admired
undershirt
C2
/ˈʌndɝˌʃɝːt/
a lightweight undergarment worn on the upper body beneath a shirt
mackintosh
C2
/ˈmækɪntɑʃ/
a waterproof raincoat, traditionally made from rubberized fabric
ulster
C2
/ˈʌlstər/
a long, loose, heavy overcoat, traditionally of rough wool and sometimes made with a shoulder cape
dressy
C2
/ˈdɹɛsi/
stylish or formal enough for a special occasion
romper
C2
/ˈɹɑmpɚ/
A one-piece garment, often worn by young children at play.
patten
C2
/ˈpætən/
historical: a wooden clog or raised overshoe worn to keep an ordinary shoe above wet or muddy ground
wince
C2
/wɪns/
make a face indicating disgust or dislike
shoestring
C2
/ˈʃuːstrɪŋ/
a cord or lace used to fasten a shoe
freckled
C2
/ˈfɹɛkəld/
covered with freckles or small brownish spots
threadbare
C2
/ˈθɹɛdˌbɛ(ə)ɹ/
having the nap worn away so that the threads show through
milliner
C2
/ˈmɪl.ə.nɚ/
a person who designs, makes, or sells women's hats
togs
C2
/tɑːɡz/
informal, plural: clothes, especially clothes for a particular activity or occasion
tailcoat
C2
/ˈteɪlkoʊt/
a formal coat cut short at the front and extending into one or two long tails at the back
tress
C2
/tɹɛs/
literary, often plural: a long lock, curl, or braid of hair
diadem
C2
/ˈdaɪəˌdem/
an ornamental headband or crown worn as a sign of royalty
dressmaking
C2
/ˈdresˌmeɪ.kɪŋ/
the craft, work, or occupation of making women's clothing, especially custom-fitted dresses
moccasin
C2
/ˈmɑkəsɪn/
a traditional Indigenous North American soft leather shoe, made in varied regional styles from hide stitched around the foot
jerkin
C2
/ˈdʒɝː.kɪn/
a close-fitting jacket, often sleeveless and made of leather or rich fabric, worn especially by men in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries
pinafore
C2
/ˈpɪnəˌfɔɹ/
a sleeveless, apron-like outer garment worn over other clothes, especially by a child
peignoir
C2
/peɪnˈwɑːr/
a woman's loose dressing gown, often light or sheer
bedraggled
C2
/bɪˈdræɡəld/
wet, dirty, and hanging limply; untidy from exposure to bad weather
forelock
C2
/ˈfɔrˌlɑk/
a lock of hair that grows or falls over a person's forehead
chemise
C2
/ʃəˈmiːz/
a loose shirtlike undergarment or nightdress, historically worn next to the skin by women
wimple
C2
/ˈwɪmpəl/
a cloth headdress covering the head, neck, and sides of the face, worn historically by women and still by some nuns
millinery
C2
/ˈmɪl.əˌner.i/
women's hats and related decorative headwear considered collectively
neckerchief
C2
/ˈnɛkərtʃɪf/
a square or triangular scarf worn tied around the neck
spangle
C2
/ˈspæŋɡəl/
a small, flat, shiny ornament sewn onto clothing; a sequin
toque
C2
/toʊk/
a close-fitting brimless hat, especially one worn by women
farthingale
C2
/ˈfɑɹðɪŋɡeɪl/
a hooped framework or petticoat worn under a skirt, especially in the 16th and 17th centuries, to spread it outward
coif
C2
/kwɑːf/
a close-fitting cap or headdress, especially one formerly worn by women, nuns, soldiers, or lawyers
baldhead
C2
/ˈbɔːldˌhɛd/
dated: a person with a bald head
crinoline
C2
/ˈkrɪnəlɪn/
a stiff or hooped petticoat, or its framework, worn to hold a skirt out from the body
flounce
C2
/flaʊns/
a wide strip of gathered or pleated fabric sewn on a garment or furnishing as decoration
chaplet
C2
/ˈtʃæplət/
a garland or circlet of flowers, leaves, or other material worn on the head or around the neck
reticule
C2
/ˈrɛtɪˌkjuːl/
historical: a small woman's handbag, often closed with a drawstring
hobnail
C2
/ˈhɑːbneɪl/
a short nail with a broad, thick head, driven into a boot sole to strengthen it or improve grip
greatcoat
C2
/ˈɡreɪtˌkoʊt/
a long, heavy overcoat worn for warmth, especially as part of a historical military uniform
sweatband
C2
/ˈswɛtˌbænd/
a strip of absorbent material worn around the head or wrist during exercise
clothier
C2
/ˈkloʊðiər/
a person or company that makes or sells clothes
sunshade
C2
/ˈsʌnˌʃeɪd/
a parasol carried to protect a person from sunlight
decolletage
C2
/ˌdeɪkɑləˈtɑʒ/
the low neckline of a woman's garment
accoutrement
C2
/əˈkuː.tɚ.mənt/
an item of equipment, clothing, or decoration used for a particular activity or role, most often in the plural
cowled
C2
/kaʊld/
wearing a cowl or hood, especially as part of a monk's clothing
epaulet
C2
/ˌepəˈlet/
an ornamental shoulder piece on a uniform, especially one indicating military rank
cockade
C2
/kɑˈkeɪd/
an ornament (such as a knot of ribbon or a rosette) usually worn on the hat
armlet
C2
/ˈɑːrm.lət/
a band worn around the upper arm for ornament or identification
pantaloon
C2
/ˌpæntəˈluːn/
a close-fitting trouser or an old-fashioned garment covering the leg, usually used in the plural pantaloons
foppery
C2
/ˈfɑː.pɚ.i/
ostentatiously fashionable dress, affected manners, or behavior characteristic of a fop
circlet
C2
/ˈsɝklət/
a narrow circular band, often of precious metal or flowers, worn around the head
bandeau
C2
/ˈbændəʊ/
a band for the hair.
bandbox
C2
/ˈbændˌbɑks/
a lightweight box, originally for neckbands and later especially for hats or other delicate clothing
tricorne
C2
/ˈtraɪ.kɔːrn/
a hat with the brim turned up on three sides to form three points; a tricorn
surcoat
C2
/ˈsɝːˌkoʊt/
historical: a loose sleeveless garment worn over armour, often displaying heraldic colours or arms
shirtsleeve
C2
/ˈʃɝːtˌsliːv/
the sleeve of a shirt
décolleté
C2
/deɪˌkɑː.ləˈteɪ/
of a garment: cut low enough to expose much of the neck, shoulders, or upper chest
surtout
C2
/sɝˈtuː/
historical: a man's close-fitting overcoat, often cut like a frock coat
fard
C2
/fɑɹd/
archaic or literary makeup or paint applied to the face
gewgaw
C2
/ˈɡuɡɔ/
a showy but cheap or worthless trinket, ornament, or decorative object
blowsy
C2
/ˈblaʊzi/
dated and disparaging, especially of a woman: untidy, coarse, or excessively florid in appearance
gorget
C2
/ˈɡɔrdʒɪt/
a distinctively colored patch of feathers or fur on an animal's throat or upper chest
pelisse
C2
/pəˈlis/
historical: a long outer cloak or coat worn by women or children, often trimmed or lined with fur
dishabille
C2
/ˌdɪsəˈbiːl/
a state of being only partly or carelessly dressed
billycock
C2
/ˈbɪl.iˌkɑːk/
dated British: a stiff felt hat with a rounded crown, similar to a bowler hat
baldric
C2
/ˈbɔldɹɪk/
a broad, often ornamented belt worn diagonally from one shoulder to the opposite hip to support a sword, bugle, or other equipment