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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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All 27,899 wordsC2+ is beyond the official CEFR scale: rare, specialist, and literary words kept for reference.
333 words
moonstone
C2
/ˈmuːnˌstoʊn/
a translucent feldspar gemstone that displays a floating pearly or bluish sheen called adularescence
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doge
C2
/doʊdʒ/
historical: the elected chief magistrate of the former republics of Venice or Genoa
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buttock
C1
/ˈbʌtək/
either of the two rounded fleshy parts at the back of the pelvis, formed chiefly by the gluteal muscles
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palais
C2
/pəˈleɪ/
a palace or grand public building, especially one with a French name or cultural setting
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prospectus
B2
/pɹəˈspɛktəs/
a document describing a proposed project, publication, institution, or business and inviting interest or participation
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treatise
C1
/ˈtɹiːtɪs/
A formal, usually lengthy, systematic discourse on some subject.
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gooseberry
B2
/ˈɡusˌbɛɹi/
a small, round, tart berry, usually green, yellow, or red, used fresh or in preserves and desserts
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dumbbell
C2
/ˈdʌm.bɛl/
a short bar with a weight at each end, held in one hand for exercise
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phallus
C2
/ˈfæl.əs/
formal, anatomical, or anthropological: the penis, especially when erect
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pish
C2
/pɪʃ/
dated: used to express impatience, disdain, contempt, or dismissal
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ramrod
C2
/ˈræmˌrɑːd/
a rod used to push a charge down the barrel of a muzzle-loading firearm or to clean a gun barrel
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egad
C2+
/iˈɡæd/
archaic: a mild exclamation expressing surprise, emphasis, outrage, or contempt
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tabernacle
C2
/ˈtæbɚnækl̩/
the portable sanctuary used by the Israelites according to the Hebrew Bible
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vesta
C2
/ˈves.tə/
historical: a short friction match, especially one made with a wax-coated stem
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minuet
C2
/ˌmɪn.juˈɛt/
a slow, formal dance in triple time that was fashionable in European courts during the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries
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cataract
C1
/ˈkætəˌrækt/
a clouding of the eye's natural lens that impairs vision
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hullabaloo
C1
/ˌhʌləbəˈlu/
a loud commotion, uproar, or noisy fuss
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een
C2
/iːn/
Scots and Northern English: eyes
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addendum
C2
/əˈden.dəm/
a section of additional information appended to a document or publication
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despot
C1
/ˈdɛs.pət/
a ruler who holds absolute power and uses it in a cruel, oppressive, or arbitrary way
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sot
C2
/sɑt/
dated and disapproving: a habitual drunkard
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groat
C2
/ɡroʊt/
historical: an English or Scottish coin, especially the English silver coin worth four old pence
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headpiece
C1
/ˈhɛdˌpiːs/
something worn on or covering the head, especially an ornamental or protective item
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yucca
C2
/ˈjʌkə/
any of a genus of evergreen plants with stiff sword-shaped leaves and tall clusters of white flowers, native chiefly to warm, dry parts of North and Central America
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florin
C2
/ˈflɔːr.ɪn/
a gold coin first minted in medieval Florence, or any of several European coins modeled on it
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saddlebag
C2
/ˈsædəlˌbæɡ/
one of a pair of bags carried across or beside a saddle, or a similar bag fitted to a bicycle or motorcycle
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royalist
B2
/ˈrɔɪ.ə.lɪst/
a supporter of monarchy or of a particular monarch or royal dynasty
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jingo
C2
/ˈdʒɪŋɡoʊ/
dated: used as a mild oath, usually in the phrase by jingo
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esprit
C2
/eˈspriː/
lively intelligence, wit, or vivacious cleverness
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crevasse
C2
/kɹəˈvæs/
a deep crack or fissure in a glacier, ice sheet, or snowfield
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mitre
C1
/ˈmaɪtəɹ/
a tall ceremonial headdress worn by a bishop or certain other church dignitaries
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rigmarole
C2
/ˈrɪɡməˌroʊl/
a long, complicated, and often unnecessary procedure
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polecat
C2
/ˈpoʊlˌkæt/
a dark-brown Eurasian mustelid that releases a strong-smelling secretion when threatened
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swipes
C2
/swaɪps/
dated British slang: weak, watery, or inferior beer
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kilowatt
C2
/ˈkɪləˌwɑːt/
a unit of power equal to one thousand watts; symbol kW
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mote
C2
/moʊt/
a tiny particle or speck, especially one visible in the air
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codicil
C2
/ˈkɑdəsəl/
a legal document added to a will to explain, modify, add, or revoke a provision
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rathole
C2
/ˈrætˌhoʊl/
a burrow, entrance, or hole made or used by a rat
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galoot
C2
/ɡəˈluːt/
slang, mildly insulting or humorous: a fellow, especially one who is awkward, foolish, or uncouth
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harelip
C2
/ˈhɛrˌlɪp/
dated and sometimes offensive: a cleft lip, a congenital opening or split in the upper lip
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handmaid
C2
/ˈhændˌmeɪd/
dated or historical: a female personal servant or attendant
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pshaw
C2
/pʃɔː/
dated: used to express impatience, disbelief, contempt, or dismissal
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tress
C2
/tɹɛs/
literary, often plural: a long lock, curl, or braid of hair
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marmoset
C2
/ˈmɑːrməˌzɛt/
a small Central or South American monkey of the callitrichid group, typically with clawlike nails on most digits
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seigneur
C2
/seɪnˈjɝː/
historical: a feudal lord or nobleman in France or another French-speaking territory
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cortege
C2
/ˈkɔːr.teʒ/
a formal or ceremonial procession, especially at a funeral, wedding, or royal occasion
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potash
C1
/ˈpɑːtæʃ/
potassium carbonate or an impure mixture of potassium salts formerly obtained from wood ashes
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epistle
C2
/ɪˈpɪsəl/
a formal or literary letter, especially a long one
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hist
C2
/hɪst/
an archaic call used quietly to attract attention or command silence
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tapir
C2
/ˈteɪpiːə(ɹ)/
An odd-toed ungulate of the genus Tapirus with a long prehensile upper lip.
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majordomo
C2
/ˌmeɪ.dʒɚˈdoʊ.moʊ/
historical: the chief servant or steward in a wealthy or royal household
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morass
C2
/məˈɹæs/
Anything that entraps or makes progress difficult.
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withe
C2
/wɪð/
a slender, flexible twig or shoot, especially one used for binding
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seraph
C2
/ˈsɛɹəf/
an angel of the seraphim, traditionally represented with six wings and ranked in the highest order of Christian angelology
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cubit
C2
/ˈkjuː.bɪt/
any of several ancient units of length based on the forearm from elbow to fingertip, commonly about 18 inches or 46 centimetres
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eventide
C2
/ˈiːvənˌtaɪd/
evening or the late part of the day around sunset; literary or poetic
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retread
B2
/ˈriːˌtred/
a worn tire fitted with a new outer tread so that it can be used again
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weal
C2
/wil/
welfare, prosperity, or the common good, now chiefly archaic or literary
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bodkin
C2
/ˈbɑːdkɪn/
a blunt, large-eyed needle used to pull cord or ribbon through a hem or casing
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obsequies
C2
/ˈɑːbsɪkwiz/
funeral rites or ceremonies, especially formal ones
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erg
C2
/ɝɡ/
the centimeter-gram-second unit of work or energy, equal to one dyne-centimeter or 10^-7 joule
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septicaemia
C2
/ˌsɛptɪˈsiːmiə/
chiefly British: a serious infection involving pathogenic microorganisms in the bloodstream; blood poisoning
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entente
C1
/ɑnˈtɑnt/
an informal alliance or friendly understanding between states or political powers
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turbit
C2
/ˈtɝbɪt/
a breed of fancy domestic pigeon with a short beak, a peaked or shell-shaped crest, and a frill of feathers on the breast
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catarrh
C2
/kəˈtɑr/
inflammation of a mucous membrane, especially in the nose or throat, accompanied by excessive mucus; now chiefly a dated medical term
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switchback
C2
/ˈswɪtʃˌbæk/
chiefly British, dated: a roller coaster or amusement ride with steep rises and descents
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cinematograph
C2
/ˌsɪnəməˈtæɡræf/
an early apparatus that recorded and projected motion pictures
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ultramarine
C2
/ˌʌltrəməˈriːn/
a vivid deep-blue pigment originally made by grinding lapis lazuli and now also produced synthetically
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merk
C2
/mɝːk/
a historical Scottish silver coin and unit of account worth thirteen shillings and fourpence Scots
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scrofula
C2
/ˈskrɑfjələ/
dated: tuberculosis of the lymph nodes, especially those of the neck; cervical tuberculous lymphadenitis
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dyspepsia
C2
/dɪsˈpepsiə/
pain, discomfort, bloating, nausea, or heartburn arising from the upper digestive tract; indigestion
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odalisque
C2
/ˈoʊdəlɪsk/
historical: an enslaved female attendant in an Ottoman palace or harem; in Western writing, often inaccurately treated as a concubine
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swash
C2
/swɑːʃ/
the surge or wash of water against a shore, or the sound it makes
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orang
C2
/ɔˈræŋ/
dated: a shortened form of orangutan, the large arboreal ape native to Borneo and Sumatra
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gree
C2
/ɡriː/
dialectal or archaic: one step in a flight of stairs
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bibliography
B1
/bɪbliˈɒɡɹəfi/
a list of books, articles, or other sources relating to a subject or used in preparing a work
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millwright
C2
/ˈmɪlˌraɪt/
historical: a craftsperson who designs, builds, or repairs mills and their machinery
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marl
C2
/mɑːrl/
a loose earthy deposit made chiefly of clay and calcium carbonate, often containing shell fragments
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firkin
C2
/ˈfɝkɪn/
a small wooden cask used especially for butter, ale, or other provisions
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cornpone
C2+
/ˈkɔrnˌpoʊn/
chiefly Southern US: a simple cornbread, traditionally made without milk or eggs and baked or fried
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arcanum
C2
/ɑrˈkeɪnəm/
a secret, mystery, or piece of knowledge known only to initiates or specialists
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clew
C2
/kluː/
an archaic or literary spelling of clue: a fact or sign that helps solve a problem or find something
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gamecock
C2
/ˈɡeɪmˌkɑk/
a rooster bred and trained for cockfighting
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commissionaire
C2
/kəˌmɪʃəˈnɛr/
chiefly British, historical: a uniformed attendant or doorman at a hotel, theater, office, or other public building
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delf
C2
/delf/
historical and dialectal: Delftware or other glazed earthenware, especially plates, dishes, and tea things
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alga
C2
/ˈæl.ɡə/
one of a diverse group of chiefly aquatic photosynthetic organisms, ranging from microscopic single cells to large seaweeds and lacking the organs of land plants
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puncheon
C2
/ˈpʌntʃən/
US historical: a split log or heavy slab smoothed on one face and used especially for flooring
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catafalque
C2
/ˈkæt.ə.fɑːlk/
a raised, often decorated platform or framework on which a coffin rests during a funeral or lying in state
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danseuse
C2
/dænˈsɜːz/
dated: a female professional dancer, especially a ballet dancer
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schema
C2
/ˈskiː.mə/
an organized pattern, framework, or abstract form that can be applied to particular cases
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parterre
C2
/pɑːɹˈtɛɚ/
a formal ornamental garden laid out in symmetrical flowerbeds divided by paths
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tomtit
C2
/ˈtɑmˌtɪt/
chiefly British: a small tit, especially the blue tit
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impasto
C2
/ɪmˈpæs.toʊ/
painting: the technique of applying paint thickly enough for brush or palette-knife marks to remain visibly raised
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caddis
C2
/ˈkædɪs/
a caddisfly or its aquatic larva, which often builds a portable case from sand, twigs, or other debris
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flapdoodle
C2
/ˈflæpˌduːdəl/
informal, often dated: foolish, pretentious, or insincere talk; nonsense
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jings
C2
/dʒɪŋz/
dated or dialectal: an exclamation of surprise or emphasis
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