This week on The Missing Workbook
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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.
418 words
rejoinder
C2
/ɹɪˈd͡ʒɔɪndɚ/
a quick reply to a question or remark (especially a witty or critical one)
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disputation
C2
/ˌdɪspjəˈteɪʃən/
formal argument or sustained verbal controversy about a question
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indelicacy
C2
/ɪnˈdɛlɪkəsi/
lack of tact, propriety, or sensitivity in speech or behavior
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scofflaw
C2
/ˈskɔfˌlɔ/
One who habitually violates minor laws or fails to answer trivial court summonses (such as parking tickets).
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monosyllable
C1
/ˌmɑː.noʊˈsɪl.ə.bəl/
a word or utterance consisting of one syllable
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précis
C2
/ˈpreɪ.si/
a concise summary of the essential facts or main points of a text, speech, or argument
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ribaldry
C2
/ˈrɪbəldri/
coarse, vulgar, or sexually indecent humor, language, or behavior
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inroad
C1
/ˈɪn.roʊd/
a noticeable advance, effect, or penetration, especially in the phrase make an inroad or make inroads
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declamation
C2
/ˌdɛkləˈmeɪʃən/
the formal, forceful, or theatrical delivery of a speech
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antonym
B1
/ˈæn.təˌnɪm/
A word that means the opposite of another word.
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neologism
C2
/niˈɑləˌd͡ʒɪzəm/
A word or phrase which has recently been coined; a new word or phrase.
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debenture
C2
/dəˈbɛntʃɝ/
a long-term debt instrument issued by a company or government; in US usage it is usually unsecured, while in UK usage it may be secured on assets
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fustian
C2
/ˈfʌs.t͡ʃən/
inflated, pompous, or pretentious speech or writing
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panegyric
C2
/ˌpænəˈdʒɪrɪk/
a formal speech or piece of writing that offers elaborate praise
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wordage
C2
The number of words in a piece of writing; word count.
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lubra
C2
/ˈluː.brə/
dated and offensive Australian term for an Aboriginal Australian woman
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signification
C2
/ˌsɪɡnɪfɪˈkeɪʃən/
the message that is intended or expressed or signified
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misstatement
C2
/ˌmɪsˈsteɪtmənt/
an inaccurate or incorrect statement, especially one made unintentionally
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determiner
B2
/dɪˈtɝ.mɪ.nɚ/
A word used before a noun to show which thing or how much is meant, such as 'the', 'this' or 'some'.
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behoof
C2
/bɪˈhuːf/
advantage, benefit, or interest, chiefly in the formal phrase for someone's behoof
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archaism
C2
/ˈɑɹ.kiˌɪz.əm/
an old-fashioned word, expression, spelling, grammatical form, custom, or stylistic feature no longer in ordinary use
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ophthalmia
C2
/ɑfˈθælmiə/
inflammation of the conjunctiva or eyeball; an older general medical term for inflammatory eye disease
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scurrility
C2
/skəˈrɪləti/
coarse, abusive, obscene, or foul-mouthed language
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solecism
C2
/ˈsɑləsɪzəm/
a grammatical error or nonstandard construction in speech or writing
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denotation
C2
/ˌdiː.noʊˈteɪ.ʃən/
The direct, literal meaning of a word, as opposed to the feelings it suggests.
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abbacy
C2
/ˈæbəsi/
the office, dignity, jurisdiction, estate, or term of service of an abbot or abbess
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exordium
C2
/ɛɡˈzɔrdiəm/
the introductory part of a speech, essay, or other formal discourse
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unreserve
C2
/ˌʌn.rɪˈzɝːv/
absence of restraint or concealment in speech or behavior; complete frankness or openness (formal or literary)
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malapropism
C2
/ˈmæləpɹɑpˌɪzəm/
The blundering use of an absurdly inappropriate word or expression in place of a similar-sounding one.
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divagation
C2
/ˌdaɪ.vəˈɡeɪ.ʃən/
a departure from the main subject in speech or writing; a digression
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last name
A1
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text message
A2
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quantifier
C2+
/ˈkwɑntɪˌfaɪɚ/
a word or symbol expressing quantity, such as 'all' or 'some'
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gist
C2+
/dʒɪst/
the central or essential meaning of a speech or text
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locution
C2+
/loʊˈkjuʃən/
a particular word, phrase, or style of expression
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monotone
C2+
/ˈmɑnəˌtoʊn/
a single unvaried tone or pitch in speech or sound
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attaintment
C2+
/əˈteɪntmənt/
archaic word for the act of attainting or staining with dishonour
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baba
C2+
/ˈbɑːbɑː/
a small rum-soaked sponge cake; also a term for father or old man
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bugger
C2+
/ˈbʌɡɚ/
British vulgar term for a person or thing; to spoil or tire out
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dayspring
C2+
/ˈdeɪˌsprɪŋ/
literary or archaic term for dawn or daybreak
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expletive
C2+
/ˈɛksplɪtɪv/
a profane or obscene exclamation; a meaningless filler word
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apothecary
C2+
/əˈpɑθəkɛri/
an archaic term for a pharmacist who prepared and sold medicines
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arse
C2+
/ɑrs/
vulgar British term for the buttocks or a foolish person
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baragouin
C2+
/ˌbærəˈɡwɪn/
unintelligible or jargon-like speech; gibberish
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lexicon
C2+
/ˈlɛksɪkɑn/
the vocabulary of a language, person, or field; a dictionary
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maxim
C2+
/ˈmæksɪm/
a short pithy statement expressing a general truth or rule of conduct
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mime
C2+
/maɪm/
acting using gesture and movement without speech; to perform thus
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poser
C2+
/ˈpoʊzər/
a puzzling question or problem; one who poses or affects a persona
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rede
C2+
/rid/
counsel or advice; an archaic word for guidance or a plan
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rep
C2+
/rɛp/
an informal term for a representative, reputation, or a repetition
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richdom
C2+
/ˈrɪtʃdəm/
an archaic word for the state of being rich; wealth or richness
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sawbones
C2+
/ˈsɔboʊnz/
a slang term for a surgeon or doctor
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spook
C2+
/spuk/
a ghost; also a slang term for a spy, or to frighten
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tummy
C2+
/ˈtʌmi/
the stomach or belly, especially in informal or childish speech
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vocable
C2+
/ˈvoʊkəbəl/
a word regarded as a unit of sound rather than meaning
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acceptation
C2+
/ˌæksɛpˈteɪʃən/
the accepted or usual meaning of a word or expression
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bunny
C2+
/ˈbʌni/
a child's word for a rabbit
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chickabiddy
C2+
/ˈtʃɪkəˌbɪdi/
a term of endearment for a child or chicken
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civility
C2+
/səˈvɪləti/
formal politeness and courtesy in behavior or speech
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creed
C2+
/krid/
a formal statement of religious belief or a set of guiding principles
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derivation
C2+
/ˌdɛrɪˈveɪʃən/
the origin or source of something, especially a word's formation
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dialect
C2+
/ˈdaɪəˌlɛkt/
a regional or social variety of a language with distinctive features
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diction
C2+
/ˈdɪkʃən/
the choice and use of words, or clarity of speech
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digression
C2+
/daɪˈɡrɛʃən/
a temporary departure from the main subject in speech or writing
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dimpsy
C2+
/ˈdɪmpsi/
dialectal term for twilight or the dim half-light of dusk
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discommendation
C2+
/ˌdɪskɒmənˈdeɪʃən/
archaic term for blame, censure, or expression of disapproval
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dismission
C2+
/dɪsˈmɪʃən/
archaic term for dismissal or the act of sending away
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doomsman
C2+
/ˈdumzmən/
archaic term for a judge or one who pronounces sentence
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edificator
C2+
/ˈɛdɪfɪˌkeɪtər/
archaic term for a builder, or one who edifies morally
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encomium
C2+
/ɛnˈkoʊmiəm/
a speech or piece of writing that warmly praises someone or something
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falsehood
C2+
/ˈfɔlshʊd/
an untrue statement; a lie
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hubby
C2+
/ˈhʌbi/
an informal or affectionate term for a husband
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incumbency
C2+
/ɪnˈkʌmbənsi/
the holding of an office or position, or its term
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monologue
C2+
/ˈmɑnəlɔɡ/
a long speech by one speaker, especially in a play or performance
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overstatement
C2+
/ˌoʊvɚˈsteɪtmənt/
an exaggerated or excessive statement of something
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presidentship
C2+
/ˈprɛzɪdəntʃɪp/
the office or term of a president
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prof
C2+
/prɑf/
an informal term for a professor
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rescript
C2+
/ˈriskrɪpt/
an official edict or written answer from an authority
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semivowel
C2+
/ˈsɛmiˌvaʊəl/
a speech sound such as w or y that functions like both vowel and consonant
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simile
C2+
/ˈsɪməli/
a figure of speech comparing two things using 'like' or 'as'
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stound
C2+
/staʊnd/
an archaic word for a moment, sharp pang, or time of trial
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verbiage
C2+
/ˈvɝbiɪdʒ/
excessive or unnecessarily wordy language
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bim
C2+
/bɪm/
dialectal or slang term for a woman, often derogatory; a bimbo
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biz
C2+
/bɪz/
informal term for business or a particular trade or industry
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blackcoat
C2+
/ˈblækkoʊt/
archaic term for a clergyman, from the black clerical garb
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blee
C2+
/bli/
archaic word for complexion, color, or hue
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bouk
C2+
/buk/
Scots and dialectal word for the body, bulk, or trunk
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bower
C2+
/ˈbaʊər/
a leafy shelter or arbor; a poetic word for a lady's private chamber
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bub
C2+
/bʌb/
an informal, often condescending term of address for a man or boy
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cablegram
C2+
/ˈkeɪbəlˌɡræm/
a message sent by submarine telegraph cable
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catchword
C2+
/ˈkætʃˌwɜrd/
a memorable word or phrase repeated as a slogan
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copter
C2+
/ˈkɑptɚ/
an informal term for a helicopter
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counterjumper
C2+
/ˈkaʊntɚˌdʒʌmpɚ/
a derogatory old term for a shop assistant or salesclerk
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credo
C2+
/ˈkridoʊ/
a statement of the beliefs or principles that guide one's actions
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culver
C2+
/ˈkʌlvər/
an archaic or dialectal word for a wood pigeon or dove
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dandiprat
C2+
/ˈdændɪˌpræt/
an archaic term for an insignificant fellow or urchin
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