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
489 words
bedridden
C1
/ˈbɛdˌrɪdən/
unable to leave one's bed because of illness, injury, age, or weakness
flatulence
B2
/ˈflætʃələns/
the presence or release of excessive gas in the digestive system
colic
B2
/ˈkɑlɪk/
severe, often spasmodic pain in the abdomen, especially pain arising from the intestines
outpatient
B2
/ˈaʊtˌpeɪʃ(ə)nt/
A patient who is treated at a hospital but does not stay there overnight.
hypodermic
C1
/ˌhaɪpəˈdɝmɪk/
relating to the region beneath the skin, especially to an injection given there
phlegm
C2
/flɛm/
thick mucus produced in the respiratory passages, especially when coughed up
hypochondriac
C2
/ˌhaɪpoʊˈkɑndɹiæk/
a person persistently and excessively anxious about having or developing illness
venereal
C2
/vəˈnɪriəl/
relating to sexual intercourse, sexual desire, or the genitals
psychotherapy
C1
/ˌsaɪkoʊˈθɛɹəpi/
the treatment of mental or emotional problems by psychological means
untreated
B2
/ənˈtriːtɪd/
Not given medical care
laudanum
C2
/ˈlɔːdənəm/
an alcoholic tincture of opium formerly used as a painkiller, sedative, and sleep aid
wean
C1
/wiːn/
to accustom a baby or young animal gradually to food other than milk and end dependence on nursing
intravenous
B2
/ˌɪntrəˈviːnəs/
Going into or carried through a vein.
gargle
B2
/ˈɡɑɹɡəl/
to wash the mouth or throat by holding liquid there and forcing air through it
sunstroke
C2
/ˈsʌnˌstɹoʊk/
heatstroke caused by prolonged exposure to direct sunlight or intense heat
diphtheria
B2
/dɪfˈθɪɹ.i.ə/
A serious infectious disease that affects the throat and breathing.
bloodshot
C1
/ˈblʌdˌʃɑːt/
of the eyes, reddened because small blood vessels are swollen or more visible
twinge
C2
/twɪndʒ/
a sudden, brief, sharp pain
opiate
C2
/ˈoʊpiət/
a sedative or narcotic drug containing opium or one of its natural derivatives
abrasion
C2
/əˈbreɪ.ʒən/
an area of skin scraped or worn away by friction
symptomatic
C1
/ˌsɪmp.təˈmæt.ɪk/
Being a sign of a wider, usually bad, situation or problem.
infertility
C2
/ˌɪnfɚˈtɪləti/
the inability or reduced ability of a person, animal, or population to produce offspring
virulent
C2
/ˈvɪr.jə.lənt/
able to cause severe disease; highly infectious or harmful
poultice
C2
/ˈpoʊltɪs/
a soft, moist, often heated mass applied to the body to soothe inflammation, pain, or infection
preventive
B2
/pɹɪˈvɛntɪv/
Intended to stop something bad, especially illness, from happening.
incontinence
C2
/ɪnˈkɑːn.tən.əns/
inability to control the bladder or bowels, resulting in involuntary urination or defecation
sicken
B2
/ˈsɪk.ən/
to become ill
rickets
C2
/ˈrɪk.ɪts/
a childhood disorder in which poor bone mineralization, often from vitamin D deficiency, makes bones soft or deformed
cataract
C1
/ˈkætəˌrækt/
a clouding of the eye's natural lens that impairs vision
nearsighted
C2
/ˈnɪɹˌsaɪtɪd/
able to see nearby objects clearly but unable to see distant objects clearly
subcutaneous
C2
/ˌsʌbkjʊˈteɪniəs/
situated, occurring, or administered beneath the skin
hairball
C2
/ˈhɛrˌbɔl/
a compact mass of swallowed hair or fur formed in the digestive tract of a person or animal; a trichobezoar
deafness
C1
/ˈdɛfnəs/
The condition of being deaf; the lack or loss of the ability to hear.
convalescent
C2
/ˌkɒnvəˈlɛsənt/
returning to health after illness or debility
lockjaw
C1
/ˈlɑkˌdʒɔ/
an acute and serious infection of the central nervous system caused by bacterial infection of open wounds
scabies
C2
/ˈskeɪbiːz/
a contagious skin infestation caused by itch mites that burrow into the outer skin, producing intense itching and a pimple-like rash
mitral
C2
/ˈmaɪtrəl/
anatomy: relating to the valve between the left atrium and left ventricle of the heart
aphasia
C2
/əˈfeɪʒə/
a disorder caused by damage to language areas of the brain that impairs speaking, understanding, reading, or writing
congestive
C2
/kənˈdʒɛstɪv/
medical: involving or caused by an abnormal accumulation of blood or other fluid
wheal
C2
/wiːl/
a raised mark or swelling on the skin, especially one caused by a blow, pressure, or an allergic reaction
welt
C2
/wɛlt/
a raised, often red mark on the skin caused by a blow, pressure, or irritation
tracheotomy
C2
/ˌtreɪkiˈɑtəmi/
a surgical operation that creates an opening into the trachea with a tube inserted to provide a passage for air
microcosm
C2
/ˈmaɪ.kɹəˌkɑz.əm/
The human body; a person.
homeopathic
C2
/ˌhoʊmiːoʊˈpæθɪk/
relating to homeopathy or to remedies prepared according to its principles
restorative
C1
/ɹɪˈstɒɹətɪv/
Having the power to make you feel healthy, strong, or refreshed again.
croup
C2
/kɹuːp/
an illness, chiefly in young children, that causes a harsh barking cough and difficulty breathing
interloper
C2
/ˌɪntɚˈloʊ̯pɚ/
One who interferes, intrudes or gets involved where not welcome, particularly a self-interested intruder.
palliative
C1
/ˈpæl.i.ə.tɪv/
relieving pain or other symptoms without curing the underlying disease
liniment
C2
/ˈlɪn.ə.mənt/
a medicinal liquid or lotion rubbed on the skin to ease pain or stiffness
melancholia
C2
/ˌmɛlənˈkoʊliə/
historical psychiatry: a condition of profound depression, often with fear, guilt, slowed thought, or withdrawal
medulla
C2
/məˈdʌlə/
the medulla oblongata, the lowest part of the brainstem, which helps regulate breathing, heart rate, and other automatic functions
myopic
C2
/maɪˈoʊ.pɪk/
affected by myopia; unable to see distant objects clearly without corrective lenses
gid
C2
/ɡɪd/
a parasitic disease, especially of sheep, in which a tapeworm larva in the brain causes dizziness and circling movements
hypnotherapy
C2
/ˌhɪpnoʊˈθɛɹəpi/
The use of hypnosis to treat illness or psychological problems.
ail
C1
/eɪl/
to cause someone pain, illness, or persistent trouble, often used in questions
malformation
C2
/ˌmælfɔɹˈmeɪʃən/
an abnormal shape or structure, especially one arising during bodily development
infirmity
C1
/ɪnˈfɜɹməti/
physical weakness or illness, especially because of age
antibacterial
B2
/ˌæntiːbækˈtɪriːəl/
Killing bacteria or stopping them from growing.
polyp
C2
/ˈpɑːlɪp/
an abnormal growth projecting from a mucous membrane, such as in the nose or colon
recuperation
C2
/rɪˌkuːpɝˈeɪʃən/
The process of recovering one's health gradually after illness or injury.
inoculate
C1
/ɪˈnɑːkjəleɪt/
to introduce a vaccine or antigen into a person or animal in order to produce immunity
lozenge
C2
/ˈlɑz.ɪnd͡ʒ/
a small medicated tablet or sweet, often used for a sore throat
optician
C1
/ɑːpˈtɪʃən/
a trained professional who makes, fits, and dispenses glasses or contact lenses from a prescription
colitis
C2
/kəˈlaɪtɪs/
inflammation of the colon
transfuse
C2
/tɹænsˈfjuːz/
to transfer blood or another fluid into a person's or animal's bloodstream
speculum
C2
/ˈspɛkjələm/
a medical instrument used to hold open a body passage so that its interior can be examined
diuretic
C2
/ˌdaɪ.jəˈrɛt.ɪk/
a drug or other substance that increases urine production, often helping the body remove excess salt and water
apoplexy
C2
/ˈæpəplɛksi/
dated: sudden unconsciousness or paralysis caused by a stroke or cerebral hemorrhage
ashen
C2+
/ˈæʃ.ən/
anemic looking from illness or emotion
goiter
C2
/ˈɡɔɪtər/
an abnormal enlargement of the thyroid gland that can cause swelling at the front of the neck
nostrum
C2
/ˈnɑ.stɹəm/
a medicine of secret or doubtful composition that is promoted as an effective remedy
morbidity
C2
/mɔːrˈbɪd.ə.t̬i/
an unhealthy or excessive interest in gloomy or disturbing subjects, especially illness and death
undigested
B2
not digested
harelip
C2
/ˈhɛrˌlɪp/
dated and sometimes offensive: a cleft lip, a congenital opening or split in the upper lip
deplete
C2
/dɪˈplit/
To reduce the amount of; to remove (a substance from something)
miscarry
C1
/ˌmɪsˈker.i/
to lose an embryo or fetus spontaneously before it can survive independently
colicky
C2
/ˈkɑːlɪki/
suffering from colic or repeated abdominal pain
hypochondria
C2
/ˌhaɪpoʊˈkɑndriə/
persistent, excessive anxiety that one has or may develop a serious illness; now a nontechnical or dated term
analgesic
C2
/ˌænəlˈdʒiːsɪk/
Any medicine, such as aspirin, that reduces pain, especially without inducing a loss of other sensation. (Contrast anesthetic.)
ventral
C1
/ˈvɛntrəl/
situated on or directed toward the belly or lower surface of an animal, or the front surface of an upright human body
hospitalize
B2
/ˈhɒspɪtəˌlaɪz/
To take someone into a hospital for treatment.
whitlow
C2
/ˈʍɪt.loʊ/
a painful infection or inflammation near the end of a finger or toe, especially around or beneath the nail
pleurisy
C2
/ˈplʊrəsi/
inflammation of the pleura around the lungs, typically causing sharp pain during breathing
miasma
C2
/maɪˈæzmə/
unhealthy vapors rising from the ground or other sources
locum
C2
/ˈloʊkəm/
chiefly British: a professional, especially a doctor, who temporarily performs another person's duties
indigestible
B2
/ˌɪndɪˈdʒɛstəbəl/
difficult or impossible for the body to digest
consumptive
C2
/kənˈsʌmptɪv/
affected by or characteristic of pulmonary tuberculosis
sickbed
C1
/ˈsɪkˌbɛd/
the bed or bedside place occupied by a person who is ill
dropsy
C2
/ˈdrɑːpsi/
historical medicine: edema, or swelling caused by excess fluid in body tissues
intransigent
C2
/ɪnˈtɹæn.sə.d͡ʒənt/
Unwilling to compromise or moderate a position; unreasonable.
dotage
C2
/ˈdoʊtɪdʒ/
a period or state of old age marked by declining mental ability or judgment
arnica
C2
/ˈɑrnɪkə/
a plant of the daisy family, especially Arnica montana, traditionally used in herbal remedies
phial
C1
/ˈfaɪəl/
a small, narrow bottle, especially one used for medicines, chemicals, or other liquids
somatic
C2
/səˈmætɪk/
Part of, or relating to the body of an organism.
purgative
C2
/ˈpɝːɡətɪv/
causing the bowels to empty, or more broadly cleansing something of unwanted matter or emotion
prevalence
C1
/ˈpɹɛvələns/
The fact of being widespread or common.