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
174 words
mercantile
C2
/ˈmɝ.kənˌtaɪl/
Connected with trade and the buying and selling of goods for profit.
privatization
C1
/ˌpɹaɪvətaɪˈzeɪʃən/
The transfer of a company or service from government to private ownership.
tariff
B1
/ˈtærɪf/
a tax imposed by a government on goods imported from or exported to another country
additive
C2
/ˈæd.ɪ.tɪv/
A substance added to food, fuel, or another product to give it certain qualities.
consultancy
C1
/kənˈsʌltənsi/
A company that gives expert advice in a particular field.
incorporation
C1
/ɪnˌkɔrpəˈreɪʃən/
the act of including something as part of a larger whole, or the state of being included
profiteering
B2
/ˌprɑː.fəˈtɪr.ɪŋ/
the practice of exploiting scarcity, crisis, or another person's need in order to make an excessive or unfair profit
profiteer
B2
/ˌprɑfəˈtɪr/
a person who makes excessive or unfair profit, especially from scarcity or an emergency
profitability
C2
/ˌpɹɑ.fɪ.təˈbɪl.ɪ.ti/
The ability of a business to make a profit; the degree to which it is profitable.
contractually
C2
/kənˈtræktʃuːəli/
By the terms of a contract; as required by a legal agreement.
convivial
C2
/kənˈvɪv.i.əl/
occupied with or fond of the pleasures of good company
laissez-faire
C2
/ˌleɪ.zeɪˈfer/
an economic doctrine or policy favoring minimal government intervention in trade, industry, and markets
undersell
C1
/ˌʌndɚˈsɛl/
to sell at a lower price than a competitor
commercialize
C1
/kəˈmɝː.ʃə.laɪz/
to develop an idea, product, or service so that it can be sold commercially
salable
C2
/ˈseɪ.lə.bəl/
suitable or sufficiently desirable to be sold
overstock
B2
/ˌoʊvɚˈstɑk/
to supply or keep more goods, animals, money, or other stock than is needed or can be used
mismanage
C1
/ˌmɪsˈmæn.ɪdʒ/
to organize, control, or use something badly or incompetently
tret
C2
/trɛt/
historical commerce: an allowance in weight made to a buyer for waste, dust, or deterioration after tare had been deducted
higgling
C2
present participle and gerund of higgle
copartnership
C2
/ˌkoʊˈpɑɹtnɚˌʃɪp/
the state or right of being a copartner in a joint enterprise
entrepôt
C2
/ˈɑːntrəpoʊ/
a trading port or commercial center where goods are imported, stored, and re-exported
vendible
C2
/ˈvɛndəbəl/
capable of being sold or suitable for sale; marketable
stock market
B2
hereamong
C2+
/ˌhɪrəˈmʌŋ/
among these things or persons; in this company (archaic)
recompense
C2+
/ˈrɛkəmpɛns/
compensation or reward for loss, effort, or service
proprietor
C2+
/prəˈpraɪətɚ/
the owner of a business or property
speciality
C2+
/ˌspɛʃiˈæləti/
a pursuit, product, or skill in which one specializes
adulterator
C2+
/əˈdʌltəreɪtər/
one who debases a product by adding inferior substances
gainless
C2+
/ˈɡeɪnləs/
bringing no profit or advantage; unprofitable
biologic
C2+
/ˌbaɪəˈlɑdʒɪk/
relating to biology; a medical product derived from living organisms
butchery
C2+
/ˈbʊtʃəri/
brutal and indiscriminate killing; the trade of a butcher
disinvest
C2+
/ˌdɪsɪnˈvɛst/
to withdraw or reduce an investment in a company or sector
gainful
C2+
/ˈɡeɪnfəl/
providing money or profit; remunerative
officiate
C2+
/əˈfɪʃieɪt/
to perform official duties, especially at a ceremony or religious service
phantasy
C2+
/ˈfæntəsi/
imagination or a product of it; fantasy (archaic spelling)
solitarily
C2+
/ˈsɑləˌtɛrɪli/
in a solitary manner; alone and without company
strategical
C2+
/strəˈtidʒɪkəl/
relating to strategy; strategic
strategically
C2+
/strəˈtidʒɪkli/
in a way that relates to or shows strategy
subsidiary
C2+
/səbˈsɪdiɛri/
a company controlled by another; of secondary importance
tryout
C2+
/ˈtraɪˌaʊt/
a test of the suitability of a performer, athlete, or product
biz
C2+
/bɪz/
informal term for business or a particular trade or industry
caravanserai
C2+
/ˌkærəˈvænsəˌraɪ/
an inn with a central court for caravans along Eastern trade routes
commercialism
C2+
/kəˈmɝʃəˌlɪzəm/
emphasis on profit or marketing, often at the expense of other values
dealing
C2+
/ˈdilɪŋ/
conduct or transactions in business or relations
declarer
C2+
/dɪˈklɛrər/
one who declares; in bridge, the player who plays the contract
embargo
C2+
/ɪmˈbɑrɡoʊ/
an official ban on trade or commerce with a country
enterpriser
C2+
/ˈɛntɚˌpraɪzɚ/
one who undertakes bold ventures; an entrepreneur
evensong
C2+
/ˈivənˌsɔŋ/
the Anglican service of evening prayer; vespers
generically
C2+
/dʒəˈnɛrɪkli/
in a general way; without a brand or specific name
guerdon
C2+
/ˈɡɝdən/
a reward or recompense for service
knight
C2+
/naɪt/
a man granted honorary rank for service, historically a mounted warrior
knockoff
C2+
/ˈnɑkˌɔf/
a cheap imitation of a popular branded product
livestock
C2+
/ˈlaɪvˌstɑk/
farm animals raised for use or profit
logotype
C2+
/ˈlɔɡəˌtaɪp/
a distinctive symbol or design representing a company or brand
ministration
C2+
/ˌmɪnəˈstreɪʃən/
the act of giving aid, care, or religious service
nationalize
C2+
/ˈnæʃənəˌlaɪz/
to transfer an industry or asset from private to state ownership
offertory
C2+
/ˈɔfɚtɔri/
the part of a church service when offerings are collected, or the music sung then
profitably
C2+
/ˈprɑfɪtəbli/
in a way that produces profit or advantage
pulsate
C2+
/ˈpʌlseɪt/
to expand and contract rhythmically; to throb
racketeering
C2+
/ˌrækəˈtɪrɪŋ/
the running of an illegal business or fraudulent scheme for profit
recessional
C2+
/rɪˈsɛʃənəl/
a hymn or music played as clergy and choir withdraw at a service's end
requital
C2+
/rɪˈkwaɪtl/
a return or repayment for a favor, service, or wrong
secretion
C2+
/sɪˈkriʃən/
the process or product of releasing a substance from a cell or gland
seniority
C2+
/ˌsinˈjɔrəti/
the state of being older or higher in rank or length of service
stockholder
C2+
/ˈstɑkˌhoʊldɚ/
an owner of shares in a company; a shareholder
strategetic
C2+
/ˌstrætəˈdʒɛtɪk/
relating to strategy; strategic (archaic variant)
unincorporate
C2+
/ˌʌnɪnˈkɔrpəˌreɪt/
to deprive of corporate status; not formed into a corporation
unprofitable
C2+
/ʌnˈprɑfɪtəbəl/
not yielding profit or benefit
unsocial
C2+
/ʌnˈsoʊʃəl/
avoiding the company of others; not sociable
contraband
C1
/ˈkɑntrəbænd/
goods that are imported or exported illegally
duplo
C2
/ˈduːploʊ/
a brand of construction toys made by LEGO, designed for younger children with larger, easier-to-handle pieces
lastage
C2
A duty exacted, in some fairs or markets, for the right to carry things where one will.
stallage
C2
The erection and use of a stall at a fair or market.
joint-stock
C2
/ˈdʒɔɪntˌstɑk/
owned by shareholders who hold stock jointly in a company
merchant exporter
C2
/ˌmɝː.tʃənt ɪkˈspɔːr.t̬ɚ/
a trader or trading business that buys goods from producers and exports them, rather than manufacturing the goods itself
engrosser
C2
/ɪnˈɡroʊsɚ/
historical commerce: a person who buys up a commodity in bulk in order to control its supply or raise its price
forestaller
C2+
/fɔrˈstɔlər/
historical: a trader who bought or intercepted goods before they reached an open market, especially to resell them at a higher price
regrater
C2+
/rɪˈɡreɪtər/
historical British law: a trader who bought food or other necessities at a market and resold them in or near the same market for a profit