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.
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All 27,237 words
346 words
chemise
C2
/ʃəˈmiːz/
a loose shirtlike undergarment or nightdress, historically worn next to the skin by women
wimple
C2
/ˈwɪmpəl/
a cloth headdress covering the head, neck, and sides of the face, worn historically by women and still by some nuns
millinery
C2
/ˈmɪl.əˌner.i/
women's hats and related decorative headwear considered collectively
long-tailed
B2
/ˌlɔːŋˈteɪld/
clothing: having long rear skirts, panels, or tails
neckerchief
C2
/ˈnɛkərtʃɪf/
a square or triangular scarf worn tied around the neck
spangle
C2
/ˈspæŋɡəl/
a small, flat, shiny ornament sewn onto clothing; a sequin
toque
C2
/toʊk/
a close-fitting brimless hat, especially one worn by women
farthingale
C2
/ˈfɑɹðɪŋɡeɪl/
a hooped framework or petticoat worn under a skirt, especially in the 16th and 17th centuries, to spread it outward
coif
C2
/kwɑːf/
a close-fitting cap or headdress, especially one formerly worn by women, nuns, soldiers, or lawyers
baldhead
C2
/ˈbɔːldˌhɛd/
dated: a person with a bald head
crinoline
C2
/ˈkrɪnəlɪn/
a stiff or hooped petticoat, or its framework, worn to hold a skirt out from the body
flounce
C2
/flaʊns/
a wide strip of gathered or pleated fabric sewn on a garment or furnishing as decoration
chaplet
C2
/ˈtʃæplət/
a garland or circlet of flowers, leaves, or other material worn on the head or around the neck
washbowl
B1
A bowl or sink used for washing your face and hands.
reticule
C2
/ˈrɛtɪˌkjuːl/
historical: a small woman's handbag, often closed with a drawstring
hobnail
C2
/ˈhɑːbneɪl/
a short nail with a broad, thick head, driven into a boot sole to strengthen it or improve grip
greatcoat
C2
/ˈɡreɪtˌkoʊt/
a long, heavy overcoat worn for warmth, especially as part of a historical military uniform
spectacled
B2
/ˈspɛk.tə.kəld/
wearing spectacles, or marked around the eyes as though wearing them
sweatband
C2
/ˈswɛtˌbænd/
a strip of absorbent material worn around the head or wrist during exercise
coattail
C1
/ˈkoʊtˌteɪl/
usually plural: another person's success or influence from which an associate gains an advantage
bareheaded
C1
/ˈbɛrˌhɛdɪd/
wearing no hat or other covering on the head
blankness
C1
The state of being empty, with nothing written, marked, or shown.
clothier
C2
/ˈkloʊðiər/
a person or company that makes or sells clothes
sunshade
C2
/ˈsʌnˌʃeɪd/
a parasol carried to protect a person from sunlight
decolletage
C2
/ˌdeɪkɑləˈtɑʒ/
the low neckline of a woman's garment
accoutrement
C2
/əˈkuː.tɚ.mənt/
an item of equipment, clothing, or decoration used for a particular activity or role, most often in the plural
hatband
C1
/ˈhætˌbænd/
a decorative or functional band fitted around the crown of a hat, just above the brim
cowled
C2
/kaʊld/
wearing a cowl or hood, especially as part of a monk's clothing
epaulet
C2
/ˌepəˈlet/
an ornamental shoulder piece on a uniform, especially one indicating military rank
gauzy
C1
/ˈɡɔzi/
thin, light, and translucent like gauze
cockade
C2
/kɑˈkeɪd/
an ornament (such as a knot of ribbon or a rosette) usually worn on the hat
armlet
C2
/ˈɑːrm.lət/
a band worn around the upper arm for ornament or identification
pantaloon
C2
/ˌpæntəˈluːn/
a close-fitting trouser or an old-fashioned garment covering the leg, usually used in the plural pantaloons
foppery
C2
/ˈfɑː.pɚ.i/
ostentatiously fashionable dress, affected manners, or behavior characteristic of a fop
circlet
C2
/ˈsɝklət/
a narrow circular band, often of precious metal or flowers, worn around the head
bandeau
C2
/ˈbændəʊ/
a band for the hair.
bandbox
C2
/ˈbændˌbɑks/
a lightweight box, originally for neckbands and later especially for hats or other delicate clothing
ringlet
C1
/ˈrɪŋ.lət/
a long curl of hair shaped like a small ring or spiral
tricorne
C2
/ˈtraɪ.kɔːrn/
a hat with the brim turned up on three sides to form three points; a tricorn
surcoat
C2
/ˈsɝːˌkoʊt/
historical: a loose sleeveless garment worn over armour, often displaying heraldic colours or arms
shirtsleeve
C2
/ˈʃɝːtˌsliːv/
the sleeve of a shirt
décolleté
C2
/deɪˌkɑː.ləˈteɪ/
of a garment: cut low enough to expose much of the neck, shoulders, or upper chest
surtout
C2
/sɝˈtuː/
historical: a man's close-fitting overcoat, often cut like a frock coat
fard
C2
/fɑɹd/
archaic or literary makeup or paint applied to the face
gewgaw
C2
/ˈɡuɡɔ/
a showy but cheap or worthless trinket, ornament, or decorative object
blowsy
C2
/ˈblaʊzi/
dated and disparaging, especially of a woman: untidy, coarse, or excessively florid in appearance
gorget
C2
/ˈɡɔrdʒɪt/
a distinctively colored patch of feathers or fur on an animal's throat or upper chest
pelisse
C2
/pəˈlis/
historical: a long outer cloak or coat worn by women or children, often trimmed or lined with fur
dishabille
C2
/ˌdɪsəˈbiːl/
a state of being only partly or carelessly dressed
billycock
C2
/ˈbɪl.iˌkɑːk/
dated British: a stiff felt hat with a rounded crown, similar to a bowler hat
gray-headed
C1
/ˌɡreɪˈhɛdɪd/
having gray or white hair, especially as a sign of age
trousering
C2+
/ˈtraʊ.zɚ.ɪŋ/
cloth suitable for making trousers, especially material sold or discussed for that purpose
baldric
C2
/ˈbɔldɹɪk/
a broad, often ornamented belt worn diagonally from one shoulder to the opposite hip to support a sword, bugle, or other equipment
sunbonnet
C2
/ˈsʌnˌbɑnət/
a bonnet with a broad brim or projecting sides designed to shade the face and neck from sunlight
dandyism
C2
/ˈdæn.diːˌɪzəm/
the cultivated dress, manners, wit, and self-presentation characteristic of a dandy
smocked
C2
/smɑːkt/
wearing or dressed in a smock
selvage
C2
/ˈsɛlvɪdʒ/
the narrow finished edge of woven fabric that prevents it from fraying
accoutred
C2+
/əˈkuːtɚd/
Dressed; clothed.
galluses
C2
/ˈɡæləsɪz/
chiefly US dialect, usually plural: straps worn over the shoulders to hold up trousers; suspenders or braces
foppishness
C2
/ˈfɑː.pɪʃ.nəs/
excessive concern with fashionable dress, grooming, and elegant manners, especially in a man
lappet
C2
/ˈlæpɪt/
a small hanging fold, flap, or strip on a garment or headdress, often made of lace or muslin
breastpin
C2
/ˈbrɛstˌpɪn/
dated: an ornamental pin worn on clothing at the chest, especially in a cravat or shirtfront
neckcloth
C2
/ˈnɛkˌklɔθ/
a cloth worn around the neck, especially an ornamental cravat worn by men in earlier periods
stomacher
C2
/ˈstʌm.ə.kɚ/
historical: a stiff, often richly decorated triangular panel worn over the chest and stomach at the front of a woman's bodice
gaiter
C2
/ˈɡeɪ.təɹ/
a protective covering worn over the ankle and lower leg, often extending over the top of a shoe
watchguard
C2+
/ˈwɑtʃˌɡɑrd/
historical: a chain, cord, or ribbon securing a pocket watch to its wearer's clothing
heavy-lidded
C2+
/ˌhɛv.iˈlɪd.ɪd/
having eyelids that appear unusually heavy, partly closed, or drooping
labret
C2
/ˈleɪbrɪt/
an ornament worn through a piercing in or near the lip; also the piercing itself
sacque
C2
/sæk/
historical: a woman's loose gown or jacket hanging from the shoulders, especially a fashionable eighteenth-century garment
dentelle
C2+
/dɛnˈtɛl/
lace or lacework, especially as an article of dress
blackavised
C2+
/ˈblækəˌvaɪzd/
archaic: dark-complexioned or swarthy in appearance
buskin
C2
/ˈbʌs.kɪn/
a soft boot reaching to the calf or knee, often laced up the front
staylace
C2+
/ˈsteɪˌleɪs/
a lace used to fasten a pair of stays or a corset
face to face
B1
genomically
C2
In a way that relates to a genome or genetic makeup.
chaste
C2+
/tʃeɪst/
abstaining from illicit sexual conduct; pure or restrained in style
apparel
C2+
/əˈpærəl/
clothing or attire; to clothe or adorn
clothe
C2+
/kloʊð/
to provide with or dress in garments
dandy
C2+
/ˈdændi/
a man overly concerned with elegant dress; excellent
cag
C2+
/kæɡ/
British informal, a lightweight waterproof jacket; a cagoule
dapper
C2+
/ˈdæpɚ/
neat and trim in dress and appearance
fray
C2+
/freɪ/
a noisy quarrel or fight; to wear or unravel at the edges
bedizen
C2+
/bɪˈdaɪzən/
to dress or adorn gaudily and showily
despoil
C2+
/dɪˈspɔɪl/
to plunder or strip of possessions, valuables, or beauty by force
exhaustedness
C2+
/ɪɡˈzɔstɪdnəs/
the state of being completely worn out or drained of energy
fuzz
C2+
/fʌz/
a mass of fine, fluffy fibers or hair; to make blurred
inelegant
C2+
/ɪnˈɛlɪɡənt/
lacking grace, refinement, or style
nappy
C2+
/ˈnæpi/
a baby's diaper; or (of hair) tightly curled and frizzy
naturalism
C2+
/ˈnætʃərəˌlɪzəm/
a style or doctrine depicting things as they really are in nature
nonuniformity
C2+
/ˌnɑnˌjunɪˈfɔrmɪti/
the state of not being uniform or consistent throughout
philosophic
C2+
/ˌfɪləˈsɑfɪk/
relating to philosophy; calm and rational in the face of difficulty
abrasive
C2+
/əˈbreɪsɪv/
causing wear by rubbing; harsh or grating in manner
aigrette
C2+
/ˈeɪɡrɛt/
a tuft of feathers or jewels worn as a head ornament
bluecoat
C2+
/ˈbluˌkoʊt/
a person wearing a blue uniform, especially a soldier or policeman
disrobe
C2+
/dɪsˈroʊb/
to take off clothing or ceremonial robes; to undress
doff
C2+
/dɑf/
to take off or remove, especially a hat or clothing