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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218 words
counsel
C2
/ˈkaʊn.səl/
Advice or guidance, especially when serious or careful.
lex
C2
/lɛks/
a law or statute, especially one expressed by its Latin title or discussed in Roman law
dynamite
C2
/ˈdaɪ.nəˌmaɪt/
blow up with dynamite
precinct
C2
/ˈpriː.sɪŋkt/
in the United States, a local administrative district used for elections or policing
treason
C2
/ˈtɹiː.zən/
The crime of betraying one’s own country.
concussion
C2
/kənˈkʊʃən/
A violent collision or shock.
valet
C2
/ˈvæleɪ/
a person that will park and fetch cars for people using a business, restaurant or service
superstitious
C2
/ˌs(j)u.pɚˈstɪ.ʃəs/
showing ignorance of the laws of nature and faith in magic or chance
suspense
C2
/səˈspɛns/
an uncertain cognitive state
bey
C2
/beɪ/
historical: a governor, ruler, or other high official in the Ottoman Empire and some of its former territories
statute
C2
/ˈstæt͡ʃuːt/
enacted by a legislative body
oblivion
C2
/əˈblɪviːən/
total forgetfulness
perjury
C2
/ˈpɜː(ɹ)d͡ʒəɹi/
The deliberate giving of false or misleading testimony under oath.
etiquette
C2
/ˈɛt.ɪˌkɛt/
The manners or decent behaviour to be observed in social or professional life; conventional decorum; the ceremonial code of polite society.
scapegoat
C2
/ˈskeɪpˌɡoʊt/
Someone unfairly blamed or punished for some failure.
privy
C2
/ˈprɪvi/
sharing secret or private knowledge of something, normally followed by to
untrue
C2
/ʌnˈtɹuː/
not true to an obligation or trust
ancestral
C2
/ænˈsɛs.təɹ.əl/
inherited or inheritable by established rules (usually legal rules) of descent
eviction
C2
/ɪˈvɪk.ʃən/
the expulsion of someone, such as a tenant, from the possession of land by process of law
alderman
C2
/ˈɔldəɹmən/
a member of a municipal council, especially in a city or in a historical system of local government
rigor
C2
/ˈɹɪɡɚ/
excessive sternness
emir
C2
/əˈmɪr/
a ruler, prince, governor, or military commander in an Islamic country or polity
viceroy
C2
/ˈvaɪsˌrɔɪ/
a governor who rules a country, colony, or province as the representative of a monarch
corroborate
C2
/kəˈɹɑbəɹeɪ̯t/
to support with evidence, authority, or make more certain or confirm
gentry
C2
/ˈd͡ʒɛntɹi/
People of education and good breeding.
annihilation
C2
/əˌnaɪ.əˈleɪ.ʃən/
total destruction
prerogative
C2
/prɪˈrɑɡətɪv/
a right or privilege belonging exclusively to a particular person, group, or position
evict
C2
/iˈvɪkt/
expel from one's property or force to move out by a legal process
scepter
C2
/ˈsɛp.tɚ/
a ceremonial staff carried by a monarch as an emblem of royal authority
aristocratic
C2
/ˌæɹɪstəˈkɹætɪk/
belonging to or characteristic of the nobility or aristocracy
libel
C2
/ˈlaɪbəl/
a published false statement in a lasting form, such as writing or an image, that unjustly damages a person's reputation; also the legal wrong of publishing it
irreversible
C2
/ˌɪr.ɪˈvɝ.sə.bəl/
incapable of being reversed
hypnotize
C2
/ˈhɪpnətaɪ̯z/
To induce a state of hypnosis in.
requisition
C2
/ˌɹɛkwɪˈzɪʃən/
A formal, official request for supplies or services.
censor
C2
/ˈsɛnsɚ/
to subject to political, religious, or moral censorship
wrongdoing
C2
/ˈɹɒŋˌduːɪŋ/
activity that transgresses moral or civil law
inquisitor
C2
/ɪnˈkwɪzɪtɚ/
a person who asks questions in a searching, persistent, or harsh manner
feudal
C2
/ˈfju.dəl/
Of, or relating to feudalism.
monogamous
C2
/məˈnɑɡəməs/
(used of relationships and of individuals) having one mate
viscount
C2
/ˈvaɪkaʊnt/
a member of the British or certain other peerages ranking below an earl or count and above a baron
accountability
C2
/əˌkaʊn.təˈbɪl.ə.ti/
The state of being responsible for your actions and having to explain them to others.
depravity
C2
/dəˈpɹævɪti/
The state of being morally corrupt or wicked.
definitively
C2
/dɪˈfɪnɪtɪvli/
In a way that is not only decisive, but also conclusive and final.
demos
C2
/ˈdiˌmɑs/
the ordinary citizens or common people of an ancient Greek city-state; by extension, the populace or citizen body of a democracy
exorcise
C2
/ˈɛk.sɔɹˌsaɪz/
To drive out (an evil spirit) from a person, place or thing, especially by an incantation or prayer.
gratification
C2
/ˌɡɹætɪfɪˈkeɪʃən/
state of being gratified or satisfied
incumbent
C2
/ɪnˈkʌmbənt/
Currently holding an official position, especially in politics.
habeas
C2
/ˈheɪ.bi.əs/
law: habeas corpus, especially a petition, proceeding, or writ seeking judicial review of a person's detention
ruthlessly
C2
/ˈruːθləsli/
in a ruthless manner
dominus
C2
/ˈdɑːmənəs/
historical: a lord or master; a title formerly applied to a knight, cleric, or academic master
notoriety
C2
/noʊ.tɚ.aɪ.ə.ti/
The state of being famous for something bad or shameful.
transgression
C2
/trɑːnzˈɡrɛʃn/
A violation of a law, duty or commandment.
frenzied
C2
/ˈfɹɛnzid/
affected with or marked by frenzy or mania uncontrolled by reason
austerity
C2
/ɔˈstɛɹɪti/
A government policy of cutting public spending and raising taxes to reduce debt.
procedural
C2
/pɹəˈsiːd͡ʒ(ə)ɹəl/
Relating to an established way of doing something, especially official rules or methods.
guile
C2
/ɡaɪl/
Deceptiveness, deceit, fraud, duplicity, dishonesty.
squatter
C2
/ˈskwɑ.təɹ/
a person who occupies land or a building without legal title, permission, or a tenancy agreement
modus
C2
/ˈmoʊ.dəs/
a customary payment or other composition made instead of a tithe in kind; historical English law
crevice
C2
/ˈkrɛvəs/
A narrow crack or fissure, as in a rock or wall.
doge
C2
/doʊdʒ/
historical: the elected chief magistrate of the former republics of Venice or Genoa
regulatory
C2
/ˈɹɛɡ.jə.ləˌtɔ.ɹi/
Relating to official rules that control how something is done.
juggernaut
C2
/ˈd͡ʒʌɡ.ɚ.nɔt/
a massive inexorable force that seems to crush everything in its way
undersigned
C2
/ˌʌndɚˈsaɪnd/
the person or people whose signatures appear at the end of a document
stipulate
C2
/ˈstɪpjuˌleɪt/
To state clearly that something must be done, as part of an agreement or rule.
duchy
C2
/ˈdʌtʃi/
a territory ruled by a duke or duchess, or historically held as their domain
draconian
C2
/dɹəˈkoʊ.ni.ən/
of or relating to Draco or his harsh code of laws
vicomte
C2
/viˈkɔ̃t/
a French nobleman holding the rank corresponding to a British viscount
caveat
C2
/ˈkæviˌɑt/
a warning, reservation, or qualification attached to a statement or agreement
furtive
C2
/ˈfɝtɪv/
Of a person or an animal: sly, stealthy.
transverse
C2
/tɹanzˈvɜːs/
Situated or lying across; side to side, relative to some defined "forward" direction; perpendicular or slanted relative to the "forward" direction; identified with movement across areas.
baronet
C2
/ˈber.ə.nət/
a man holding a hereditary British title below a baron but above most knights
contractual
C2
/kənˈtræktʃuːəl/
Relating to or required by a binding legal agreement.
omnipresent
C2
/ˌɑmnɪˈpɹɛzn̩t/
Being everywhere simultaneously.
intendant
C2
/ɪnˈtɛndənt/
a public administrator or governor, especially an official in historical France, Spain, Portugal, or their colonies
vert
C2
/vɝt/
historical forest law: green vegetation in a forest, especially as cover or food for game
jurisprudence
C2
/ˌdʒʊr.ɪsˈpruː.dəns/
the theory or philosophy of law and the principles by which legal systems interpret and apply it
beadle
C2
/ˈbiːdəl/
historically, a minor parish officer who kept order, carried messages, or performed ceremonial duties
polygamist
C2
/pəˈlɪɡəmɪst/
someone who is married to two or more people at the same time
litigious
C2
/lɪˈtɪdʒəs/
inclined to settle disputes by bringing lawsuits
mutinous
C2
/ˈmjuːtɪnəs/
Refusing to obey those in authority; ready to rebel.
sycophant
C2
/ˈsɪkəfænt/
One who uses obsequious compliments to gain self-serving favour or advantage from another; a servile flatterer.
ineligible
C2
/ɪnˈɛlɪdʒəbəl/
not qualified or permitted to be chosen, receive something, or take part
codicil
C2
/ˈkɑdəsəl/
a legal document added to a will to explain, modify, add, or revoke a provision
polis
C2
/ˈpɑːlɪs/
an ancient Greek city-state, regarded as a political community together with its territory
misnomer
C2
/ˌmɪsˈnoʊməɹ/
A term which is misleading, even if firmly established, technically correct, or both.
chicanery
C2
/ʃɪˈkæɪn(ə)ɹi/
Deception by the use of trickery, quibbling, or subterfuge.
recidivism
C2
/rəˈsɪdɪˌvɪzəm/
Committing new offenses after a crime committed in the past.
pilfer
C2
/ˈpɪl.fɚ/
To steal in small quantities, or articles of small value; to practise petty theft.
onus
C2
/ˈoʊnəs/
a responsibility, duty, or burden placed on someone
jurist
C2
/ˈdʒʊr.ɪst/
an expert or scholar in law and legal theory
elaborately
C2
/ɪˈlæbrətli/
with elaboration
burgomaster
C2
/ˈbɝːɡəˌmæstɚ/
the mayor or chief magistrate of a town in the Netherlands, Germany, Belgium, or certain other European countries
calumny
C2
/ˈkæləmni/
Falsifications or misrepresentations intended to disparage or discredit another.
abeyance
C2
/əˈbeɪ.ən(t)s/
Expectancy; a condition when an ownership of real property is undetermined; lapse in succession of ownership of estate, or title.
deputation
C2
/ˌdɛpjəˈteɪʃən/
a group of people appointed to represent others or present a request
contravention
C2
/ˌkɑntrəˈvɛnʃən/
an action that violates or conflicts with a law, rule, order, agreement, or obligation