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.
Choose your level
All 27,237 words
358 words
comfortably
B2
/ˈkʌmftɚbli/
In a way that feels physically relaxed and pleasant.
gaming
B2
/ˈɡeɪmɪŋ/
The activity of playing video games.
ledger
C1
/ˈlɛdʒɚ/
a book, file, or computer record in which financial transactions are organized by account
mercenary
C2
/ˈmɝ.sə.ˌnɛɹ.i/
A soldier who fights for any country or group that pays them, rather than out of loyalty.
lira
C1
/ˈlɪr.ə/
the former basic unit of currency of Italy and Malta
costly
B2
/ˈkɑːstli/
Costing a lot of money; expensive.
audit
C1
/ˈɔ.dɪt/
An official examination of a company's financial records.
lucrative
B2
/ˈlu.kɹə.tɪv/
Producing a lot of money; very profitable.
structural
C1
/ˈstɹʌk(t͡)ʃəɹəl/
Relating to the way something is built or the parts that hold it together.
downfall
B2
/ˈdaʊnfɔːl/
A sudden loss of power, success, or wealth.
listing
C1
/ˈlɪstɪŋ/
An entry in a list, catalogue, or directory.
bribery
C1
/ˈbɹaɪbəɹi/
The crime of giving or taking money or gifts to influence someone dishonestly.
penniless
B1
/ˈpɛ.nɪ.ləs/
Having no money at all; very poor.
winnings
B1
/ˈwɪnɪŋz/
money, prizes, or other gains won, especially through gambling or a competition
pence
A2
/pɛns/
The plural of penny; a unit of British money worth one hundredth of a pound.
dole
C2
/doʊl/
chiefly British and informal: money paid by the government to people who are unemployed
owing
B1
/ˈoʊ.ɪŋ/
Still needing to be paid; owed as a debt.
shilling
C2
/ˈʃɪlɪŋ/
an English coin worth one twentieth of a pound
checkbook
B2
/ˈtʃek.bʊk/
a book of blank checks supplied by a bank for making payments from an account
invoice
C1
/ˈɪnˌvɔɪs/
A document listing goods or services provided and the money owed for them
treasurer
B1
/ˈtrɛʒ.ɚ.ɚ/
an officer responsible for receiving, safeguarding, recording, and paying out an organization's money
subscription
C1
/səbˈskɹɪpʃən/
An arrangement to receive or use something for a set period, usually by paying.
affordable
B2
/əˈfɔɹ.də.bəl/
Cheap enough that most people can pay for it.
deprivation
C1
/ˌdɛprəˈveɪʃən/
The lack or loss of something needed, such as food, sleep, or basic rights.
monetary
B1
/ˈmɑː.nə.ter.i/
relating to money, or measured and paid in money
levy
C2
/ˈlɛvi/
a charge imposed and collected
rupee
C2
/ˈruːpiː/
the monetary unit of India, Pakistan, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Mauritius, and the Seychelles
fiscal
B2
/ˈfɪskəl/
Relating to government money, taxes, and public spending.
sou
C2
/suː/
a former French coin of low denomination
checkout
B1
/ˈt͡ʃɛkˌaʊt/
The place in a shop where you pay for what you are buying.
pawnshop
B2
/ˈpɔnʃɑp/
A shop where you can borrow money by leaving a valuable item as security.
economical
B2
/ˌɛk.əˈnɑ.mɪ.kəl/
Not using a lot of money, fuel, or other resources; not wasteful.
fundraising
C1
/ˈfʌndˌɹeɪzɪŋ/
The activity of collecting money for a cause, often a charity.
lombard
C2
/ˈlɑːmbɑːrd/
historical: a pawnshop or lending house that advances money against pledged goods
voucher
B2
/ˈvaʊtʃɚ/
a printed or electronic token that can be exchanged for goods or services or used to obtain a discount
franc
B2
/fræŋk/
a unit of currency used in Switzerland and several other countries, and formerly used in France, Belgium, and Luxembourg
thrift
C1
/ˈθɹɪft/
careful and economical use of money or other resources; frugality
debit
B2
/ˈdɛb.ɪt/
An amount of money taken out of a bank account.
inexpensive
A2
/ˌɪnɪkˈspɛnsɪv/
Costing little money; not expensive.
solvent
B2
/ˈsɔlvənt/
A liquid that can dissolve other substances.
impoverished
C1
/ɪmˈpɑvəɹɪʃt/
Very poor; lacking money.
bullion
C2
/ˈbʊl.jən/
gold or silver in bulk form, especially bars or ingots valued by weight
auditor
B2
/ˈɔː.dɪ.tɚ/
a qualified person who independently examines an organization's financial records and practices
expenditure
C1
/ɛkˈspɛndɪt͡ʃɚ/
The amount of money that is spent.
taxation
B1
/tækˈseɪ.ʃən/
the system or act of charging taxes
extravagance
C1
/ɪkˈstɹævəɡən(t)s/
The spending of much more money than is necessary or wise.
incur
B2
/ɪnˈkɝ/
To bring something unpleasant, such as cost, loss, or blame, upon yourself by your own actions.
frugal
B2
/ˈfɹuːɡəl/
Careful with money; avoiding waste.
windfall
C1
/ˈwɪndˌfɔl/
an unexpected gain, advantage, or piece of good fortune, especially a sum of money
materialistic
C2
/məˌtɪəɹ.i.əˈlɪs.tɪk/
Caring too much about money and possessions.
solicit
C2
/səˈlɪsɪt/
To ask for or try to obtain something, such as help, money, or opinions.
pensioner
B2
/ˈpɛnʃənɚ/
a person who receives a pension, especially after retirement
backer
C1
/ˈbækɚ/
a person or organization that supports a person, cause, or project, especially by providing money
promissory
C2
/ˈpɹɑmɪsɔɹi/
relating to or having the character of a promise
deductible
C1
/dɪˈdʌktəbəl/
permitted to be subtracted from income or another total when calculating tax
excise
C1
/əkˈsaɪz/
a tax on goods produced, sold, or used within a country
farthing
C1
/ˈfɑːrðɪŋ/
a former British bronze coin worth a quarter of a penny
goldmine
C2+
/ˈɡoʊldˌmaɪn/
a mine from which gold ore is extracted
pawnbroker
B2
/ˈpɔːnˌbɹəʊ.kə(ɹ)/
A person who lends money in exchange for items that can be sold if the loan is not repaid.
overdraft
C1
/ˈoʊvɚdɹæft/
An arrangement that lets you take more money out of your bank account than you have, up to an agreed limit.
foreclose
C1
/fɔːrˈkloʊz/
to take possession of mortgaged property after the borrower fails to make required payments
exuberant
C1
/ɪɡˈzuːbəɹənt/
Full of energy, excitement, and cheerful enthusiasm.
dividend
B2
/ˈdɪvɪdɛnd/
a payment made by a company to its shareholders from profits
creditor
B2
/ˈkɹɛdɪtɚ/
a person, company, or institution to whom money is owed
remit
C2
/ɹiˈmɪt/
To send money in payment for something.
repossess
B1
/ˌriːpəˈzɛs/
to take possession of something again, especially property on which payments are overdue
subsidize
C2
/ˈsʌbsɪˌdaɪz/
To help pay for something by giving money, usually so its cost stays low.
opulent
C2
/ˈɒpjʊlənt/
Showing great wealth and luxury; richly grand.
annuity
B2
/əˈn(j)uɪti/
a fixed amount of money paid to someone regularly, often yearly or for life
groat
C2
/ɡroʊt/
historical: an English or Scottish coin, especially the English silver coin worth four old pence
usury
C2
/ˈjuːʒəɹi/
the act of lending money at an exorbitant rate of interest
opulence
C2
/ˈɒp.jʊl.əns/
Great wealth shown through luxurious and lavish living.
florin
C2
/ˈflɔːr.ɪn/
a gold coin first minted in medieval Florence, or any of several European coins modeled on it
duty-free
B1
Not requiring payment of import tax, especially when bought at an airport or border.
ruinous
B2
/ˈɹuː.ɪnəs/
So expensive that it could destroy you financially.
lavishly
C2
/ˈlævɪʃli/
in a rich and lavish manner
economize
C2
/iˈkɑnəmaɪz/
To save money by spending less and avoiding waste.
cost-effective
C1
Giving good value for the money spent; worth the cost.
banknote
B1
/ˈbæŋk.noʊt/
a piece of paper or polymer currency issued in a fixed denomination by a bank or other authorized monetary authority
paymaster
C2
/ˈpeɪˌmæstɚ/
an official or employee responsible for paying wages, especially to workers or troops
coinage
C1
/ˈkɔɪnɪd͡ʒ/
the act of inventing a word or phrase
inarticulate
C2
/ɪn.ɑɹˈtɪk.jə.lət/
without or deprived of the use of speech or words
shekel
C2
/ˈʃɛkəl/
the basic unit of money in Israel
provident
C2+
/ˈpɹɒvɪdənt/
providing carefully for the future
speculator
C1
/ˈspɛk.jəˌleɪ.tɚ/
a person who buys or sells assets in the hope of profiting from uncertain price changes
pennyworth
C2
/ˈpɛniwɝːθ/
an amount of something that can be bought for one penny
patrimony
C2
/ˈpætrəˌmoʊni/
property or an estate inherited from one's father or other ancestor
remittance
C2
/ɹɪˈmɪtəns/
A sum of money sent to someone, especially as payment.
moneymaking
C1
/ˈmʌniˌmeɪkɪŋ/
the activity of earning money or making a profit
insurer
B2
/ɪnˈʃʊr.ɚ/
a person or organization that provides insurance and undertakes to pay for specified losses in return for premiums
largesse
C2
/lɑɹˈ(d)ʒɛs/
A specific gift of money, etc., given in this way, specifically (historical) at harvest time; a donation, a gratuity.
drachma
C2
/ˈdræk.mə/
the standard unit of currency used in modern Greece before the euro was introduced
coffer
C2
/ˈkɔfɚ/
a strong box or chest for storing money or valuables
ducat
C2
/ˈdʌk.ət/
historical: a gold or silver coin formerly issued by many European states, especially the widely traded gold ducat
fourpence
C2
a former English silver coin worth four pennies
bilk
C2
/bɪlk/
to escape, either physically or mentally