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
432 words
inexpediency
C2
/ˌɪn.ɪkˈspiː.di.ən.si/
the quality of being unsuitable, unwise, or unlikely to achieve the intended result
substantialize
C2
/səbˈstænʃəˌlaɪz/
to treat an abstraction, relation, or quality as an independently existing substance or thing
relatum
C2
/rɪˈleɪ.təm/
one of the terms or entities that stand in a relation; plural relata
anthropocentrism
C2
/ˌænθrəpoʊˈsɛntrɪzəm/
the belief or tendency to treat human beings, human interests, or human values as central or uniquely important
subsumption
C2
/səbˈsʌmpʃən/
the act or process of including a particular case, concept, or proposition under a broader category or principle
catholicity
C2
/ˌkæθəˈlɪsəti/
the quality of being broad, universal, or inclusive in range or sympathies
foreknowable
C2
/fɔrˈnoʊəbəl/
capable of being known in advance
extensional
C2
/ɪkˈstɛn.ʃən.əl/
in logic and semantics, relating to or determined by the extension of an expression: the objects to which it applies rather than its meaning or intension
virtual reality
B2
otiose
C2+
/ˈoʊʃiˌoʊs/
serving no practical purpose; futile or idle
earmark
C2+
/ˈɪrmɑrk/
to set aside funds or resources for a particular purpose
intentional
C2+
/ɪnˈtɛnʃənəl/
done on purpose; deliberate
nonsensical
C2+
/nɑnˈsɛnsɪkəl/
having no meaning or making no sense
potentiality
C2+
/pəˌtɛnʃiˈæləti/
latent capacity for development or achievement
abnormality
C2+
/ˌæbnɔrˈmæləti/
an abnormal feature, characteristic, or occurrence
entirety
C2+
/ɪnˈtaɪərti/
the whole of something; completeness
manifestation
C2+
/ˌmænəfɛˈsteɪʃən/
an event or sign that shows something clearly
ornamentation
C2+
/ˌɔrnəmɛnˈteɪʃən/
decorative details added to something for adornment
postulate
C2+
/ˈpɑstʃəˌleɪt/
to assume the existence of something as a basis for reasoning
booty
C2+
/ˈbuti/
valuable goods seized as plunder; loot
butty
C2+
/ˈbʌti/
a sandwich (British, dialectal)
conformance
C2+
/kənˈfɔrməns/
compliance with rules, standards, or specifications
forsooth
C2+
/fɔrˈsuθ/
indeed; in truth (archaic, now often used ironically)
rendition
C2+
/rɛnˈdɪʃən/
a performance or interpretation of something, or a translation
abnegation
C2+
/ˌæbnɪˈɡeɪʃən/
the renunciation or denial of something, especially self-interest
afterlife
C2+
/ˈæftɚlaɪf/
existence believed to follow death
devastation
C2+
/ˌdɛvəˈsteɪʃən/
severe and widespread destruction or ruin
intimacy
C2+
/ˈɪntəməsi/
close familiarity or personal closeness
mannerism
C2+
/ˈmænərɪzəm/
a habitual and distinctive gesture or way of speaking
peculiarity
C2+
/pɪˌkjuliˈærəti/
an odd or distinctive trait or characteristic
purposive
C2+
/ˈpɝpəsɪv/
having or showing conscious purpose; deliberate
substantive
C2+
/ˈsʌbstəntɪv/
having a firm basis in reality; important and meaningful
aggravation
C2+
/ˌæɡrəˈveɪʃən/
a worsening of something, or a source of annoyance
animadversion
C2+
/ˌænɪmædˈvɜrʒən/
a critical or censorious remark
assortment
C2+
/əˈsɔrtmənt/
a varied collection of different items or kinds
audacity
C2+
/ɔˈdæsəti/
bold daring, often combined with impudence
dearth
C2+
/dɝθ/
a scarcity or lack of something
defunction
C2+
/diˈfʌŋkʃən/
death; the ending of life or function
dubious
C2+
/ˈdubiəs/
hesitating or doubting; of questionable value or truth
emergent
C2+
/ɪˈmɝdʒənt/
arising or coming into existence; newly forming or urgent
equivalence
C2+
/ɪˈkwɪvələns/
the state of being equal in value, function, or meaning
felicity
C2+
/fəˈlɪsɪti/
intense happiness; an apt and pleasing manner of expression
footpath
C2+
/ˈfʊtˌpæθ/
a path for pedestrians, especially in the countryside
fulth
C2+
/fʊlθ/
fullness or abundance (archaic, dialectal)
impairment
C2+
/ɪmˈpɛrmənt/
a weakening or damaging of a function, faculty, or value
incantation
C2+
/ˌɪnkænˈteɪʃən/
a series of words said as a magic spell or charm
innocence
C2+
/ˈɪnəsəns/
freedom from guilt, sin, or worldly knowledge
invaluable
C2+
/ɪnˈvæljuəbəl/
extremely useful; too precious to be measured in value
moderation
C2+
/ˌmɑdəˈreɪʃən/
the avoidance of excess or extremes; restraint
nicety
C2+
/ˈnaɪsɪti/
a fine or subtle point of detail or distinction
nonconformity
C2+
/ˌnɑnkənˈfɔrmɪti/
failure or refusal to conform to accepted rules or conventions
opportune
C2+
/ˌɑpərˈtun/
well-chosen or timely; suitable for a particular purpose
origination
C2+
/əˌrɪdʒɪˈneɪʃən/
the act of bringing something into existence; a beginning
privation
C2+
/praɪˈveɪʃən/
a lack of the basic necessities or comforts of life
protuberance
C2+
/proʊˈt(j)ubərəns/
a rounded part that sticks out from a surface
truthfully
C2+
/ˈtruθfəli/
in a manner that conveys the truth; honestly
valuate
C2+
/ˈvæljuˌeɪt/
to estimate the worth or value of something; to appraise
veracity
C2+
/vəˈræsəti/
conformity to truth; habitual truthfulness or accuracy
abstractive
C2+
/æbˈstræktɪv/
tending to form abstractions or to separate qualities by abstraction
aggregation
C2+
/ˌæɡrɪˈɡeɪʃən/
the gathering of separate elements into a collective whole
alacrity
C2+
/əˈlækrəti/
brisk and cheerful readiness or eagerness
animalism
C2+
/ˈænəməˌlɪzəm/
preoccupation with physical appetites; the doctrine that humans are merely animals
apothegm
C2+
/ˈæpəˌθɛm/
a terse, pointed saying expressing a general truth
arrogance
C2+
/ˈærəɡəns/
an offensive display of superiority or self-importance
avidity
C2+
/əˈvɪdɪti/
keen eagerness or greedy enthusiasm
batty
C2+
/ˈbæti/
crazy or eccentric (informal)
cecity
C2+
/ˈsɛsɪti/
(archaic) blindness, literal or figurative
circumspection
C2+
/ˌsɚkəmˈspɛkʃən/
wariness and prudence; careful consideration of consequences
coition
C2+
/koʊˈɪʃən/
sexual intercourse; copulation
consecution
C2+
/ˌkɑnsəˈkjuːʃən/
a logical sequence or succession of things
continence
C2+
/ˈkɑntənəns/
self-restraint, especially regarding bodily appetites
controvert
C2+
/ˈkɑntrəˌvɜrt/
to deny or dispute the truth of something
creational
C2+
/kriˈeɪʃənəl/
relating to creation or the act of bringing into existence
cultism
C2+
/ˈkʌltɪzəm/
devotion to or the practices of a cult
demarcation
C2+
/ˌdimɑrˈkeɪʃən/
the marking or setting of boundaries or limits
destinate
C2+
/ˈdɛstəˌneɪt/
to appoint or set apart for a particular purpose or destiny
desultory
C2+
/ˈdɛsəlˌtɔri/
lacking a plan or purpose; passing aimlessly from one thing to another
diffusion
C2+
/dɪˈfjuʒən/
the spreading of something more widely; the intermingling of particles
discerp
C2+
/dɪˈsɜrp/
archaic term meaning to tear apart, pluck off, or divide forcibly
discontinuity
C2+
/ˌdɪskɑntəˈnuəti/
a break, gap, or lack of continuity in something
disuniformity
C2+
/ˌdɪsˌjunɪˈfɔrməti/
lack of uniformity; inconsistency or unevenness
falsehood
C2+
/ˈfɔlshʊd/
an untrue statement; a lie
fealty
C2+
/ˈfiəlti/
a feudal vassal's sworn loyalty to a lord
fidelity
C2+
/fɪˈdɛlɪti/
faithfulness or loyalty; accuracy of reproduction
heroism
C2+
/ˈhɛroʊˌɪzəm/
great bravery or noble self-sacrifice
hilarity
C2+
/hɪˈlɛrəti/
exuberant merriment or boisterous laughter
impudence
C2+
/ˈɪmpjədəns/
bold, shameless disrespect or insolence
inanition
C2+
/ˌɪnəˈnɪʃən/
exhaustion from lack of nourishment; emptiness
ingeniosity
C2+
/ɪnˌdʒiniˈɑsɪti/
cleverness or inventive skill; ingenuity
interment
C2+
/ɪnˈtɜrmənt/
the burial of a corpse in a grave or tomb
intolerance
C2+
/ɪnˈtɑlərəns/
unwillingness to accept differing views; bodily inability to endure something
inutile
C2+
/ɪnˈjutəl/
useless; serving no practical purpose
loath
C2+
/loʊθ/
reluctant or unwilling
malediction
C2+
/ˌmælɪˈdɪkʃən/
a curse or the utterance of a curse
moisty
C2+
/ˈmɔɪsti/
slightly moist or damp
overbalance
C2+
/ˌoʊvɚˈbæləns/
to lose balance and topple, or to outweigh in importance