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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All 27,237 words
1623 words
anthropologically
C2
From the perspective of anthropology, the study of human cultures.
grandee
C2
/ɡrænˈdiː/
a nobleman of the highest rank in Spain or Portugal
unworldly
B2
Not interested in money, possessions, or social success; spiritually minded.
personify
B2
/pə(ɹ)ˈsɒnɪfaɪ/
To be a perfect example of a particular quality.
townsman
C2
/ˈtaʊnzmən/
a person from the same town as yourself
idiosyncrasy
C2
/ˌɪdiəˈsɪŋkɹəsi/
An unusual habit or feature that is typical of one particular person.
dehumanize
B2
/dɪˈhjuːmənaɪz/
To treat people as if they are not human, removing their dignity and human qualities.
lawmaker
B2
/ˈlɔˌmeɪkɝ/
A person who creates or passes laws, such as a member of parliament or congress.
plutocrat
C2
/ˈpluːtəˌkræt/
A person who holds power because of their great wealth.
latecomer
B1
/ˈleɪtˌkʌm.ɚ/
A person who arrives late.
nurturer
C2
/ˈnɝtʃərɚ/
a person who cares for, supports, or encourages the growth and development of someone or something
Mandan
C2
/ˈmændæn/
a member of an Indigenous people whose traditional homelands lie along the upper Missouri River in the northern Great Plains
Aymara
C2
/ˌaɪ.mɑˈɹɑ/
a member of an Indigenous people of the central Andes, especially in Bolivia, Peru, and northern Chile
ostracism
C2
/ˈɑː.strəˌsɪz.əm/
deliberate exclusion from a group or from social acceptance
sharer
C2
/ˈʃɛrɚ/
a person who gives, receives, uses, or possesses part of something jointly with others
paternalistic
C1
/pəˌtɝːnəˈlɪstɪk/
Looking after people in a kind but controlling way, deciding what is best for them without asking.
chewer
B2
/ˈtʃuːɚ/
a person or animal that chews, especially a person who habitually chews tobacco
popularize
B2
/ˈpɑːpjəlɝˌaɪz/
To make something widely known and liked by ordinary people.
essayist
B2
/ˈɛ.seɪ.ɪst/
A person who writes essays.
sociability
C2
/ˌsoʊ.ʃəˈbɪl.ə.ti/
the quality or disposition of enjoying and engaging readily in the company of others
disturber
C1
/dɪˈstɝːbɚ/
a person or thing that interrupts peace, order, concentration, or normal activity
bewilder
B2
/bɪˈwɪldɚ/
To confuse someone completely, especially with too many choices or details.
depopulation
C1
/diːˌpɑpjəˈleɪʃən/
a substantial decline in the number of people living in a place
Javan
C2
/ˈdʒɑːvən/
a native or inhabitant of the Indonesian island of Java; Javanese is now more usual for the principal ethnic group
noticeboard
B1
A board on a wall where notices and messages are pinned for people to read.
papuan
C2
/ˈpæpjuən/
a native or inhabitant of Papua; more broadly, especially historically, an Indigenous person of New Guinea or adjacent parts of Melanesia
Melanesian
C2
/ˌmɛləˈniːʒən/
a person from Melanesia, the southwestern Pacific region that includes New Guinea and several neighboring island groups
presentational
C2
Relating to how something is presented or shown to people.
examinee
B2
/ɪɡˌzæməˈni/
A person who is taking an examination or test.
nonprofessional
B2
/ˌnɑːnprəˈfɛʃənəl/
Not done as a paid job; amateur.
depopulate
C2
/diːˈpɑː.pjə.leɪt/
to greatly reduce or remove the population of a place
servitor
C2
/ˈsɝːvətɚ/
archaic or formal: a male servant or attendant
insensitively
C1
In a way that shows no concern for other people's feelings.
intercultural
C1
/ˌɪntɚˈkʌltʃɚəl/
involving, occurring between, or relating to people from different cultures
physiognomist
C2
/ˌfɪziˈɑːɡnəmɪst/
a practitioner of physiognomy, the discredited practice of judging character or personality from facial features and outward appearance
demography
C1
/dɪˈmɑːgrəfi/
The study of human populations and how they change in size and makeup
demander
C2+
a person or group that demands or asks for something
tableful
C2
/ˈteɪbəlˌfʊl/
a group of people seated together at a table
paywall
C1
/ˈpeɪ.wɔl/
A system that blocks access to online content unless you pay for it
myrmidon
C2
/ˈmɝ.mɪˌdɑn/
a subordinate who carries out a powerful person's orders unquestioningly or ruthlessly
lionize
C2
/ˈlaɪ.ə.naɪz/
to treat someone as a celebrity or person of exceptional importance and give them conspicuous social attention
taste-maker
C2
A person whose opinions shape what becomes fashionable or popular.
preservationist
C2
/ˌprɛzɝˈveɪʃənɪst/
A person who works to protect historic buildings, natural areas, or endangered species
personalization
C1
/ˌpɝs(ə)nəlaɪˈzeɪʃən/
The act of adapting something to suit a person's needs or tastes.
tenantry
C2
/ˈtɛnəntri/
the tenants of an estate, district, or landlord considered collectively
beldame
C2
/ˈbɛldəm/
archaic and often disparaging: an old woman, especially one imagined as ugly or witchlike
proscription
C2
/pɹəˈskɹɪp.ʃən/
An official ban or prohibition on something.
fellowman
C2
/ˈfɛloʊˌmæn/
another human being, especially one regarded as sharing a common humanity or community
Koryak
C2+
/ˈkɔːriˌæk/
a member of an Indigenous people of the northern Kamchatka Peninsula and neighboring parts of the Russian Far East
penfriend
A2
A person, often in another country, with whom you exchange friendly letters but rarely meet.
womenkind
C2
/ˈwɪmɪnkaɪnd/
women considered collectively; womankind
borderer
C2
/ˈbɔrdərər/
a person who lives near a border between countries or districts
unpeople
C2+
/ʌnˈpiːpəl/
to remove the inhabitants from a place or cause it to become deserted
cosmopolite
C2
/kɑzˈmɑpəˌlaɪt/
literary: a person who is at home in many countries and regards the whole world as their community
indigene
C2
/ˈɪndɪdʒiːn/
an indigenous person, animal, or plant; a native of a place
Kalmyk
C2+
/kælˈmɪk/
a member of a traditionally Buddhist Oirat Mongol people living chiefly in Kalmykia near the northwestern Caspian Sea
starver
C2
/ˈstɑrvɚ/
a person who starves another or is held responsible for depriving people of food or livelihood
cyberaddict
B2
A person who is addicted to using computers or the Internet.
each other
A1
first person
B2
identity card
B1
native speaker
B2
netsurfer
B2
A person who browses the Internet.
public transport
B1
social networking
B1
third person
B2
insightfully
C1
In a way that shows deep understanding of a person or situation.
maternalistic
C1
Treating people in a caring but controlling, mother-like way.
mull over
C2
ace
C2+
/eɪs/
a person who excels at something, or a playing card marked with a single pip
ass
C2+
/æs/
a donkey, or a foolish or stupid person
hereafter
C2+
/hɪɹˈæftɚ/
from now on or after this; the life after death
bitch
C2+
/bɪtʃ/
a female dog; (vulgar) a spiteful person or to complain
comfortless
C2+
/ˈkʌmfɚtləs/
without comfort, consolation, or ease
sober
C2+
/ˈsoʊbɚ/
not drunk; serious, solemn, or restrained
babe
C2+
/beɪb/
a baby or young child; an inexperienced person; an attractive person
blitheness
C2+
/ˈblaɪðnəs/
carefree cheerfulness or lighthearted indifference
flake
C2+
/fleɪk/
a small thin fragment; an unreliable person; to peel off
beleaguer
C2+
/bɪˈliɡɚ/
to surround with troops; to beset with difficulties or harassment
chum
C2+
/tʃʌm/
a close friend; (verb) to bait water with fish remains to attract fish
desist
C2+
/dɪˈsɪst/
to cease or stop doing something
bowelless
C2+
/ˈbaʊəlləs/
lacking compassion or pity; without bowels of mercy (archaic)
controller
C2+
/kənˈtroʊlɚ/
a person or device that directs or regulates something
crackpot
C2+
/ˈkrækpɑt/
an eccentric or foolish person with strange ideas
elder
C2+
/ˈɛldɚ/
older, or a senior and respected member of a group
geriatric
C2+
/ˌdʒɛriˈætrɪk/
relating to old people and their health care
jerk
C2+
/dʒɜrk/
a sudden sharp movement, or a contemptible person
luster
C2+
/ˈlʌstɚ/
a gentle sheen or radiant glow
mystic
C2+
/ˈmɪstɪk/
a person who seeks union with the divine, or spiritually mysterious
admirer
C2+
/ədˈmaɪrɚ/
a person who regards another with admiration
cleric
C2+
/ˈklɛrɪk/
a member of the clergy; an ordained religious official
comely
C2+
/ˈkʌmli/
(of a person) pleasant to look at; attractive
compassionless
C2+
/kəmˈpæʃənləs/
lacking compassion; pitiless
counselor
C2+
/ˈkaʊnsələr/
a person who gives professional advice or guidance
crank
C2+
/kræŋk/
an eccentric person; a bent arm-and-handle used to turn a shaft
defer
C2+
/dɪˈfɜr/
to postpone; or to yield respectfully to another's wishes