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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.
380 words
piper
C2
/ˈpaɪ.pɚ/
a musician who plays a pipe, flute, or especially bagpipes
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perimeter
C2
/pəˈɹɪmətɚ/
the total length of the boundary of a two-dimensional shape
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cigar
C2
/sɪˈɡɑɹ/
a roll of tobacco leaves made to be smoked
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sherry
C2
/ˈʃɛɹi/
A fortified wine produced in Jerez de la Frontera in Spain, or a similar wine produced elsewhere.
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steed
C2
/stiːd/
A stallion, especially one used for riding.
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jasper
C2
/ˈd͡ʒæs.pɚ/
an opaque, impure variety of chalcedony occurring in red, yellow, brown, green, and other colors and used as a gemstone or ornamental stone
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cement
C2
/səˈmɛnt/
concrete pavement is sometimes referred to as cement
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rosemary
C2
/ˈɹoʊzˌmɛɹi/
an aromatic evergreen shrub with narrow leaves, grown as a culinary and medicinal herb
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reindeer
C2
/ˈɹeɪndɪɹ/
Arctic deer with large antlers in both sexes
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scorpion
C2
/ˈskɔːrpiən/
an arachnid with grasping pincers and a segmented tail ending in a venomous sting
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typewriter
C2
/ˈtaɪˌpraɪtɝ/
One who uses a typewriter; a typist.
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panther
C2
/ˈpænθɚ/
a black-coated leopard, or less often a black-coated jaguar
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bladder
C2
/ˈblædɚ/
A container in the form of a flexible bag.
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bloodshed
C2
/ˈblʌdˌʃɛd/
the shedding of blood resulting in murder
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golly
C2
/ˈɡɑli/
a mild, old-fashioned expression of surprise, alarm, or enthusiasm
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melancholy
C2
/ˈmɛl.ənˌkɑ.li/
A deep, thoughtful sadness.
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gunpowder
C2
/ˈɡʌnˌpaʊdɚ/
An explosive mixture of saltpetre (potassium nitrate), charcoal and sulfur; formerly used in gunnery but now mostly used in fireworks.
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mutiny
C2
/ˈmju.tə.ni/
An organized rebellion against a legally constituted authority, especially by seamen against their officers.
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adultery
C2
/əˈdʌltəɹi/
extramarital sex that willfully and maliciously interferes with marriage relations
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glitter
C2
/ˈɡlɪtəɹ/
A bright, sparkling light; shininess or brilliance.
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jaguar
C2
/ˈd͡ʒæɡ.wɑɹ/
a large spotted feline of tropical America similar to the leopard
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horsepower
C2
/ˈhɔɹsˌpaʊɚ/
a unit of power equal to 746 watts
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mercer
C2
/ˈmɝsɚ/
historical: a merchant who dealt in textiles, especially silk and other fine cloth
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oblivion
C2
/əˈblɪviːən/
total forgetfulness
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perjury
C2
/ˈpɜː(ɹ)d͡ʒəɹi/
The deliberate giving of false or misleading testimony under oath.
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rivalry
C2
/ˈraɪvəlri/
An ongoing relationship between (usually two) rivals who compete for superiority.
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undertaker
C2
/ˈʌndə(ɹ)ˌteɪkə(ɹ)/
one whose business is the management of funerals
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palate
C2
/ˈpælət/
The roof of the mouth, which separates the mouth from the nasal passage.
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shilling
C2
/ˈʃɪlɪŋ/
an English coin worth one twentieth of a pound
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jubilee
C2
/ˈd͡ʒubəˌli/
a special anniversary or the celebration of it
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rigor
C2
/ˈɹɪɡɚ/
excessive sternness
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dumpling
C2
/ˈdʌmp.lɪŋ/
a small mass of dough cooked by boiling, steaming, frying, or baking, sometimes wrapped around a filling
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pedestal
C2
/ˈped.ə.stəl/
A base on which a statue, column, or vase stands.
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castor
C2
/ˈkæstɚ/
historical: a small table container or a stand holding cruets and shakers for condiments
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valor
C2
/ˈvælɚ/
the qualities of a hero or heroine
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misdemeanor
C2
/ˌmɪsdəˈmiːnɝ/
A minor crime that is punished less severely than a serious one.
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epilepsy
C2
/ˈepəlepsi/
a neurological disorder characterized by an enduring tendency to have recurrent unprovoked seizures
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vixen
C2
/ˈvɪksən/
a female fox
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sorcery
C2
/ˈsɔɹ.sə.ɹi/
magic; spells that harness occult forces or evil spirits to produce unnatural effects in the world
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trident
C2
/ˈtɹaɪ̯dənt/
A three-pronged spear somewhat resembling a pitchfork.
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levy
C2
/ˈlɛvi/
a charge imposed and collected
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brewer
C2
/ˈbruːɝ/
the owner or manager of a brewery
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rupee
C2
/ˈruːpiː/
the monetary unit of India, Pakistan, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Mauritius, and the Seychelles
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condor
C2
/ˈkɒndɔː(ɹ)/
Either of two New World vultures, Vultur gryphus of the Andes or Gymnogyps californianus, a nearly extinct vulture of the mountains of California.
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splendor
C2
/ˈsplɛndɚ/
Great light, luster or brilliance.
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hooligan
C2
/ˈhuː.lɪ.ɡən/
a violent or destructive troublemaker, especially one acting as part of a group
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scepter
C2
/ˈsɛp.tɚ/
a ceremonial staff carried by a monarch as an emblem of royal authority
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lackey
C2
/ˈlæ.ki/
A footman, a liveried male servant.
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taker
C2
/ˈteɪkɚ/
one who accepts an offer
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duress
C2
/duˈɹɛs/
compulsory force or threat
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leviathan
C2
/ləˈvaɪəθ(ə)n/
a vast and powerful sea creature described in the Hebrew Bible
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gander
C2
/ˈɡæn.dɚ/
A male goose.
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pushover
C2
/ˈpʊʃəʊvə(ɹ)/
any undertaking that is easy to do
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tweed
C2
/twiːd/
a rough, closely woven woolen cloth, usually in mixed colors and often used for jackets and suits
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starfish
C2
/ˈstɑɹˌfɪʃ/
a star-shaped marine echinoderm, typically with five or more arms radiating from a central disc
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inkling
C2
/ˈɪŋklɪŋ/
a slight suggestion or vague understanding
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chevalier
C2
/ˌʃevəˈlɪr/
a knight or chivalrous, courtly gentleman, especially in a historical or literary context
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passover
C2
/ˈpæsˌoʊvɚ/
the Jewish spring festival commemorating the Israelites' liberation from slavery in Egypt
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mahogany
C2
/məˈhɑɡəni/
The valuable wood of any of various tropical American evergreen trees, of the genus Swietenia, mostly used to make furniture.
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tartar
C2
/ˈtɑːrtɚ/
a hard deposit of mineralized dental plaque that forms on teeth; dental calculus
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debauchery
C2
/dɪˈbɔ.t͡ʃə.ɹi/
An excessive indulgence in sensual pleasures; scandalous and immoral activities; involving sex, alcohol, or drugs without inhibition.
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narcissist
C2
/ˈnɑːrsɪsɪst/
One who shows extreme love and admiration for themself.
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incubator
C2
/ˈɪn.kjuːˌbeɪ.ɾɚ/
A support programme for the development of entrepreneurial companies.
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gunnery
C2
/ˈɡʌnəri/
the practical skill, operation, and tactical use of guns, especially artillery or naval guns
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zillion
C2
/ˈzɪljən/
a very large indefinite number, usually hyperbole
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schoolmaster
C2
/ˈskuːlˌmæstɝ/
Anything that teaches.
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briar
C2
/ˈbɹaɪɚ/
a thorny shrub or vine
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betrothal
C2
/bɪˈtroʊ.ðəl/
a formal agreement or mutual promise to marry; an engagement
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hickory
C2
/ˈhɪkəɹiː/
any of several North American hardwood trees of the genus Carya, many of which bear edible nuts
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marquee
C2
/mɑɹˈkiː/
a large tent used for an outdoor event
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shiner
C2
/ˈʃaɪnɚ/
any of numerous small, silvery North American freshwater fishes, especially minnows used as bait
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synergy
C2
/ˈsɪnəɹd͡ʒi/
The cooperation of two or more nerves, muscles, organs, etc.
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poplar
C2
/ˈpɑːplɚ/
any of various fast-growing deciduous trees of the genus Populus, often with leaves that tremble in the wind
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bracken
C2
/ˈbrækən/
a tall, coarse fern that often grows in dense stands on open or wooded land
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parameter
C2
/pəˈɹæm.ə.tɚ/
A factor or limit that defines or sets the boundaries of something.
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gallantry
C2
/ˈɡæləntri/
courage.
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sirree
C2
/sɚˈiː/
informal, chiefly US: an emphatic form of sir used after yes or no
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greenery
C2
/ˈɡriː.nɚ.i/
green leaves, plants, or vegetation considered collectively
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juggler
C2
/ˈdʒʌɡlɚ/
a performer who repeatedly throws and catches several objects or performs similar dexterity tricks
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savagery
C2
/ˈsævɪdʒəri/
extreme cruelty or violent brutality
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posturing
C2
/ˈpɑːstʃɝɪŋ/
Behaviour or talk meant to impress others rather than to be sincere.
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geyser
C2
/ˈɡaɪzɚ/
a hot spring that periodically throws jets of water and steam into the air
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crawfish
C2
/ˈkɹɔˌfɪʃ/
chiefly US: a small freshwater crustacean resembling a lobster; a crayfish
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mandible
C2
/ˈmæn.dɪb.(ə)l/
the jaw in vertebrates that is hinged to open the mouth
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villainy
C2
/ˈvɪləni/
wicked, criminal, or treacherous behavior or character
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bricklayer
C2
/ˈbrɪˌkleɪɝ/
a craftsman skilled in building with bricks
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alabaster
C2
/ˈæl.əˌbæs.tɚ/
a fine-grained, usually pale and translucent form of gypsum or calcite used for carving
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cuttlefish
C2
/ˈkʌt̬.əl.fɪʃ/
a marine cephalopod with eight arms, two longer tentacles, and a broad internal shell called a cuttlebone
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tradesman
C2
a merchant who owns or manages a shop
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highwayman
C2
/ˈhaɪ.weɪ.mən/
historical: an armed robber, typically on horseback, who stopped and robbed travelers on public roads
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caiman
C2
/ˈkeɪ.mən/
any crocodilian of the subfamily Caimaninae, native to Central and South America and closely related to alligators
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opiate
C2
/ˈoʊpiət/
a sedative or narcotic drug containing opium or one of its natural derivatives
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floodgates
C2
/ˈflʌdˌgeɪts/
Gates that control the flow of water; often used figuratively for whatever is holding back a sudden rush of something.
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legate
C2
/ˈlɛɡɪt/
an official envoy or deputy, especially a representative sent by the pope or a sovereign
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handmaiden
C2
/ˈhændˌmeɪdən/
historical: a female personal attendant or servant
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misogynist
C2
/mɪˈsɑd͡ʒ.ən.ɪst/
One who professes misogyny; a hater of women.
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