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
397 words
devotee
C1
/ˌdɛv.əˈtiː/
A person who is extremely enthusiastic about and devoted to something.
nymph
C2
/nɪmf/
in classical mythology, a female spirit associated with a natural place such as a spring, forest, or mountain
martyrdom
C2
/ˈmɑrtərdəm/
death or severe suffering endured because of loyalty to a religion, belief, or cause
caliph
C2
/ˈkeɪlɪf/
a Muslim political and religious ruler claiming succession to the authority of the prophet Muhammad
priory
B2
/ˈpɹaɪəɹi/
a monastery or convent governed by a prior or prioress, or the buildings occupied by that community
circumcision
C2
/ˌsɝkəmˈsɪʒən/
the surgical removal of the foreskin, often performed as a religious rite or medical procedure
pagoda
C2
/pəˈɡoʊ.də/
a Hindu or Buddhist temple or sacred tower, especially one built in several upward-curving tiers
christen
C1
/ˈkrɪs.ən/
to baptize someone in a Christian ceremony and formally give them a name
sprite
C2
/spɹaɪt/
a small supernatural being such as an elf, fairy, or spirit
rectory
C2
/ˈrɛk.tɚ.i/
a house provided for or occupied by a rector or another member of the clergy
fornication
C2
/ˌfɔɹnɪˈkeɪʃən/
sexual intercourse between people who are not married to each other, especially when regarded as illicit in religious or legal doctrine
blasphemous
C2
/ˈblæsfəməs/
showing gross disrespect or contempt for God, a religion, or something regarded as sacred
presbyterian
C2
/ˌpɹɛz.bɪˈtɪɹ.i.ən/
a member of a Protestant church governed by elected elders
hubris
C2
/ˈhjubɹɪs/
Excessive arrogance or pride, or presumption; originally (Greek mythology) toward the gods.
psalm
B2
/sɑm/
a sacred song or poem used in Jewish or Christian worship
godly
B2
/ˈɡɑdli/
Deeply religious and living according to the rules of one's faith.
redeemer
B2
/rɪˈdiːmɚ/
a person who saves another person, group, or cause from suffering, danger, failure, or disgrace
Jesuit
C2
/ˈdʒɛʒuɪt/
a member of the Society of Jesus, a Roman Catholic religious order
diocese
C2
/ˈdaɪ.ə.sɪs/
a district under the pastoral and administrative authority of a bishop
saintly
C1
/ˈseɪntli/
resembling or befitting a saint in holiness, virtue, patience, or kindness
nunnery
C1
/ˈnʌn(ə)ɹi/
a convent for nuns, or the buildings occupied by such a religious community
pastoral
B2
/ˈpæs.tə.ɹəl/
Showing or describing peaceful, idealized country life.
vicarage
C2
/ˈvɪk.ɚ.ɪdʒ/
the house provided as the official residence of a Church of England vicar
Quaker
B2
/ˈkweɪ.kɚ/
a member of the Religious Society of Friends, a Christian movement historically associated with pacifism, equality, and direct spiritual experience
gentile
C2
/ˈdʒɛntaɪl/
a person who is not Jewish, often written with an initial capital
Methodist
B2
/ˈmeθ.ə.dɪst/
a member or adherent of Methodism, a Protestant Christian movement that grew from the eighteenth-century revival associated with John Wesley
churchyard
C2
/ˈt͡ʃɝt͡ʃ.jɑɹd/
land beside or around a church, often used as a burial ground
manna
C1
/ˈmænə/
in the Book of Exodus, the food miraculously supplied to the Israelites during their journey through the wilderness
catechism
C2
/ˈkætɪˌkɪzəm/
a summary of Christian doctrine arranged as questions and answers for instruction
cherub
C1
/ˈtʃɛrəb/
in Western art, an angel represented as a small, plump, winged child
wafer
B2
/ˈweɪfɚ/
a thin disk of unleavened bread used in the Eucharist or Communion
fakir
C2
/fəˈkɪr/
a Muslim religious mendicant, especially a Sufi ascetic who renounces material possessions
priestly
B1
/ˈpɹiːstli/
relating to priests, the priesthood, or their religious duties
evangelical
C1
/iːvænˈd͡ʒɛlɪkəl/
relating to a Protestant Christian movement that emphasizes personal conversion, biblical authority, and preaching the gospel
mythic
C1
/ˈmɪθɪk/
relating to, described in, or having the character of a myth
perdition
C2
/pɚˈdɪʃən/
eternal spiritual punishment or damnation
ecclesiastical
C1
/əˌkli.ziˈæ.stə.kəl/
Of or pertaining to the church.
orc
C2
/ɔrk/
in fantasy literature and games, a member of a race of aggressive, often monstrous humanoid creatures
sacrilegious
C2
/ˌsækrəˈlɪdʒəs/
showing gross disrespect for, or violating, something regarded as sacred
cassock
C2
/ˈkæsək/
a long, close-fitting garment worn by members of the clergy in some Christian traditions
papacy
C2
/ˈpeɪpəsi/
the office, authority, or institution of the pope and the system by which the Roman Catholic Church is governed
pontiff
C2
/ˈpɑːntɪf/
the pope, especially when referred to formally
nosferatu
C2+
/ˌnɑːsfəˈrɑːtuː/
a vampire, especially one represented as an undead and malignant creature
tabernacle
C2
/ˈtæbɚnækl̩/
the portable sanctuary used by the Israelites according to the Hebrew Bible
faun
C2
/fɔn/
in Roman mythology and later art, a rustic nature spirit represented as partly human and partly goat
devotional
C1
/dɪˈvoʊʃənəl/
relating to religious worship, prayer, or private devotion
fallacy
C2
/ˈfɛl.ə.si/
A mistaken belief based on faulty reasoning.
dervish
C2
/ˈdɝvɪʃ/
a member of a Sufi Muslim religious order, traditionally committed to poverty and devotional discipline
necromancer
C2
/ˈnɛkrəˌmænsɚ/
a person believed to communicate with the dead for divination or to summon or control the dead by magic
sanctify
C2
/ˈsæŋktəfaɪ/
to make holy or formally set apart for sacred use
archdeacon
C2
/ˌɑːɹtʃˈdiːkən/
a senior Christian cleric who assists a bishop in administering part or all of a diocese, especially in the Anglican Church
vestal
C2
/ˈvɛstəl/
a Vestal Virgin, one of the priestesses who tended the sacred fire of Vesta in ancient Rome
vespers
C2
/ˈvɛspɚz/
an evening service of prayer in several Christian traditions; one of the canonical hours
elysium
C2
/ɪˈlɪʒiəm/
in Greek mythology, the paradise where favored heroes and the blessed dead enjoy an ideal afterlife
anathema
C2
/əˈnæθəmə/
something or someone intensely disliked, rejected, or regarded as wholly unacceptable
sacrosanct
C2
/ˈsæk.ɹoʊˌsæŋkt/
Beyond alteration, criticism, or interference, especially due to religious sanction; inviolable.
theologian
C2
/ˌθi.əˈloʊdʒən/
a scholar or specialist who studies theology and religious doctrine
sibyl
C2
/ˈsɪbəl/
in the ancient world, a woman believed to deliver divine prophecies or oracles
evangelist
C2
/ɪˈvændʒəlɪst/
a Christian preacher who seeks to convert others or revive religious faith
vestry
C2
/ˈvɛstɹi/
a room in or attached to a church where clergy put on vestments, sacred objects are kept, or meetings are held
spiritualism
B1
/ˈspɪrɪtʃuəˌlɪzəm/
the belief and practice centered on communicating with the spirits of dead people, often through a medium
parsonage
C2
/ˈpɑːrsənɪdʒ/
a house provided by a church as the residence of its minister or parson
mitre
C1
/ˈmaɪtəɹ/
a tall ceremonial headdress worn by a bishop or certain other church dignitaries
incubus
C2
/ˈɪŋkjəbəs/
in folklore, a male demon believed to lie upon and sexually assault sleeping women
mercurial
C2
/mɝˈkjʊ.ɹi.əl/
relating to or containing or caused by mercury
consecration
C2
/ˌkɒnsɪˈkɹeɪʃən/
(religion) sanctification of something by setting it apart (usually with religious rites) as dedicated to God
ordination
C1
/ˌɔːr.dənˈeɪ.ʃən/
the ceremony or process by which someone is officially made a priest, minister, or other religious leader
worshipper
C1
/ˈwɝʃɪpɚ/
a person who worships a god, especially one attending a religious service
excommunicate
C2
/ˌɛkskəˈmjunəkeɪt/
to officially exclude someone from participation or membership in a church or religious community
apostate
C2
/əˈpɔs.teɪt/
Guilty of apostasy.
unction
C2
/ˈʌŋkʃən/
the ceremonial act of anointing someone with oil, especially as a religious rite
episcopal
C2
/ɪˈpɪskəpəl/
of or relating to bishops or to government of a church by bishops
minaret
C2
/ˌmɪnəˈret/
a tall, slender tower attached to or standing near a mosque, traditionally used for the call to prayer
presbytery
C2
/ˈprɛzbɪtɛri/
in Presbyterian churches, a governing council of ministers and elected elders from congregations in a district
homily
C2
/ˈhɑməli/
a sermon explaining a religious or moral subject, especially one based on a passage of scripture
prelate
C2
/ˈprel.ət/
a Christian cleric of high rank or authority, such as a bishop, archbishop, or abbot
liturgy
C2
/ˈlɪtɚd͡ʒi/
a rite or body of rites prescribed for public worship
enchanter
C2
/ɪnˈtʃæntɚ/
a magician or sorcerer who casts spells
witchery
C2
/ˈwɪtʃəri/
witchcraft or the supposed practice of magic
pentecostal
C2
/ˌpen.tɪˈkɒs.təl/
of or relating to or occurring at Pentecost
sacristan
C2
/ˈsækɹɪstən/
The person who maintains the sacristy and the sacred objects it contains.
graveside
C1
/ˈɡreɪv.saɪd/
the area immediately beside or around a grave
grimly
C2+
/ˈɡɹɪmli/
in a grim implacable manner
primacy
C2
/ˈpɹaɪ.mə.si/
The state or condition of being prime or first, as in time, place, rank, etc.
votive
C2
/ˈvoʊ.tɪv/
offered, dedicated, or performed in fulfillment of a vow or as an expression of devotion
necromancy
C2
/ˈnɛkrəˌmænsi/
the supposed practice of communicating with the dead, especially to obtain hidden knowledge or predict the future
sepulcher
C2
/ˈsepəlkɚ/
literary or historical: a tomb, grave, or chamber in which a dead person is buried
neophyte
C2
/ˈniː.əˌfaɪt/
A beginner; someone who is new to an activity, subject, or belief.
churchwarden
C2
/ˈtʃɝːtʃˌwɔrdən/
a lay officer responsible for the property, administration, and secular affairs of an Anglican parish
seraph
C2
/ˈsɛɹəf/
an angel of the seraphim, traditionally represented with six wings and ranked in the highest order of Christian angelology
godhead
C2
/ˈɡɑdˌhɛd/
divine nature, rank, or essence; the state of being a god
ablution
C2
/əˈbluː.ʃən/
the act of washing oneself, especially as part of a regular routine; often plural
transmigration
C2
/ˌtɹænzmaɪˈɡɹeɪʃən/
the passage of a soul after death into another body or form of life
omniscience
C2
/ɑmˈnɪʃəns/
the state or capacity of knowing everything, especially as an attribute of a deity
mythos
C2
/ˈmɪθoʊs/
the body of myths, stories, and symbols associated with a culture, religion, tradition, or fictional world
asceticism
C2
/əˈsɛt.əˌsɪz.əm/
the practice of severe self-discipline and abstention from physical comforts or pleasures