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
748 words
referendum
C1
/ˌɹɛfəˈɹɛndəm/
A direct vote by the public on a single political question or proposed law.
deportation
B1
/ˌdiːpɔːrˈteɪʃən/
the legal removal of a foreign national from a country, usually by government order
conform
C1
/kənˈfɔɹm/
To behave according to accepted rules, standards or customs.
watchdog
C1
/ˈwɑːtʃdɔːɡ/
a person or organization that keeps watch over others or monitors an institution or industry to prevent danger, illegality, abuse, waste, or unfairness
irreversible
C2
/ˌɪr.ɪˈvɝ.sə.bəl/
incapable of being reversed
hypnotize
C2
/ˈhɪpnətaɪ̯z/
To induce a state of hypnosis in.
requisition
C2
/ˌɹɛkwɪˈzɪʃən/
A formal, official request for supplies or services.
abolish
C1
/əˈbɑl.ɪʃ/
to officially end a law, system, or practice
censor
C2
/ˈsɛnsɚ/
to subject to political, religious, or moral censorship
blackness
B2
/ˈblæknəs/
The state or quality of being black in colour.
advisory
C1
/ædˈvaɪz(ə)ɹi/
Having the role of giving advice rather than making decisions.
decorum
C1
/ɖɪˈkorəm/
Appropriate social behavior.
statutory
B1
/ˈstæt͡ʃəˌtɔɹi/
prescribed or authorized by or punishable under a statute
wrongdoing
C2
/ˈɹɒŋˌduːɪŋ/
activity that transgresses moral or civil law
inquisitor
C2
/ɪnˈkwɪzɪtɚ/
a person who asks questions in a searching, persistent, or harsh manner
feudal
C2
/ˈfju.dəl/
Of, or relating to feudalism.
proletariat
B2
/ˌpɹoʊ.lɪˈtɛɚ.i.ət/
Wage earners collectively; people who own no capital and depend on their labour for survival; the working class, especially when seen as engaged in a class struggle with the bourgeoisie (“the capital-owning class”).
monogamous
C2
/məˈnɑɡəməs/
(used of relationships and of individuals) having one mate
township
B2
/ˈtaʊnˌʃɪp/
an administrative division of a county or other larger local-government area
overturn
B2
/ˌəʊvə(ɹ)ˈtɜː(ɹ)n/
To officially change or cancel a decision, especially a legal one.
competence
B2
/ˈkɑm.pə.təns/
The ability to do something well, with the necessary skill or knowledge.
advisable
B2
/ədˈvaɪzəbəl/
Worthy of being recommended; desirable.
viscount
C2
/ˈvaɪkaʊnt/
a member of the British or certain other peerages ranking below an earl or count and above a baron
accountability
C2
/əˌkaʊn.təˈbɪl.ə.ti/
The state of being responsible for your actions and having to explain them to others.
depravity
C2
/dəˈpɹævɪti/
The state of being morally corrupt or wicked.
definitively
C2
/dɪˈfɪnɪtɪvli/
In a way that is not only decisive, but also conclusive and final.
legitimacy
C1
/lɪˈdʒɪtəməsi/
the quality of being lawful, valid, or justified
prelude
C2+
/ˈpɹeɪl(j)uːd/
An introductory or preliminary performance or event.
inaugural
B2
/ɪˈnɔɡjərəl/
marking the beginning or first occurrence of an activity, series, or institution
demos
C2
/ˈdiˌmɑs/
the ordinary citizens or common people of an ancient Greek city-state; by extension, the populace or citizen body of a democracy
exorcise
C2
/ˈɛk.sɔɹˌsaɪz/
To drive out (an evil spirit) from a person, place or thing, especially by an incantation or prayer.
gratification
C2
/ˌɡɹætɪfɪˈkeɪʃən/
state of being gratified or satisfied
prohibit
B2
/pɹoʊˈhɪbɪt/
To officially forbid something, often by law or rule.
incumbent
C2
/ɪnˈkʌmbənt/
Currently holding an official position, especially in politics.
dutiful
C1
/ˈduːtiːfəl/
Doing what you are supposed to do out of a sense of duty and respect.
untidy
B1
/ʌnˈtaɪdi/
Not neat; messy and in disorder
habeas
C2
/ˈheɪ.bi.əs/
law: habeas corpus, especially a petition, proceeding, or writ seeking judicial review of a person's detention
ruthlessly
C2
/ˈruːθləsli/
in a ruthless manner
dominus
C2
/ˈdɑːmənəs/
historical: a lord or master; a title formerly applied to a knight, cleric, or academic master
notoriety
C2
/noʊ.tɚ.aɪ.ə.ti/
The state of being famous for something bad or shameful.
justifiable
C1
/ˈdʒʌstəˌfaɪəbəl/
capable of being justified
certify
B2
/ˈsɝ.tɪ.faɪ/
To state officially that something has met a required standard.
boyhood
C1
/ˈbɔɪˌhʊd/
The state or condition of being a boy.
enact
C1
/ɪˈnækt/
To make a proposal into an official law.
transgression
C2
/trɑːnzˈɡrɛʃn/
A violation of a law, duty or commandment.
frenzied
C2
/ˈfɹɛnzid/
affected with or marked by frenzy or mania uncontrolled by reason
austerity
C2
/ɔˈstɛɹɪti/
A government policy of cutting public spending and raising taxes to reduce debt.
procedural
C2
/pɹəˈsiːd͡ʒ(ə)ɹəl/
Relating to an established way of doing something, especially official rules or methods.
guile
C2
/ɡaɪl/
Deceptiveness, deceit, fraud, duplicity, dishonesty.
infringement
B2
/ɪnˈfɹɪnd͡ʒmənt/
An act of breaking a law, rule, or agreement.
alienation
C1
/ˌeɪli.əˈneɪʃən/
(law) the voluntary and absolute transfer of title and possession of real property from one person to another
squatter
C2
/ˈskwɑ.təɹ/
a person who occupies land or a building without legal title, permission, or a tenancy agreement
unclaimed
B2
/ˌʌnˈkleɪmd/
not collected, requested, or taken by the person entitled to something
renown
C1
/ɹɪˈnaʊn/
The state of being widely known and admired; fame.
legality
B1
/liːˈɡæl.ə.ti/
the state or quality of being permitted by or consistent with the law
empower
C1
/ɪmˈpaʊə(ɹ)/
To give someone the confidence, strength, or ability to control their own life and decisions.
modus
C2
/ˈmoʊ.dəs/
a customary payment or other composition made instead of a tithe in kind; historical English law
crevice
C2
/ˈkrɛvəs/
A narrow crack or fissure, as in a rock or wall.
doge
C2
/doʊdʒ/
historical: the elected chief magistrate of the former republics of Venice or Genoa
entitlement
C1
/ənˈtaɪtəlmənt/
right granted by law or contract (especially a right to benefits)
legalize
B1
/ˈliː.ɡəl.aɪz/
to make something lawful or officially permitted, especially something that was previously illegal
regulatory
C2
/ˈɹɛɡ.jə.ləˌtɔ.ɹi/
Relating to official rules that control how something is done.
insubordinate
C1
/ˌɪnsəˈbɔrdəˌneɪt/
Refusing to obey orders or accept authority.
mortally
C1
/ˈmɔrtəli/
in such a manner that death ensues, also in reference to hatred, jealousy, or fear
juggernaut
C2
/ˈd͡ʒʌɡ.ɚ.nɔt/
a massive inexorable force that seems to crush everything in its way
debtor
C1
/ˈdɛt.ɚ/
A person or firm that owes money; one in debt; one who owes a debt.
dissident
B2
/ˈdɪsədɪnt/
A person who publicly disagrees with and opposes their government or its policies.
overrule
C1
/ˌoʊ.vɚˈɹul/
to use superior authority to reject or set aside a decision, ruling, or objection
actionable
B1
/ˈæk.ʃən.ə.bəl/
specific and useful enough to provide a practical basis for taking action
calmness
B1
/ˈkɑ(l)mnəs/
The state of being relaxed and peaceful.
undersigned
C2
/ˌʌndɚˈsaɪnd/
the person or people whose signatures appear at the end of a document
stipulate
C2
/ˈstɪpjuˌleɪt/
To state clearly that something must be done, as part of an agreement or rule.
assessor
B2
/əˈsɛsɚ/
a person whose job is to evaluate a person's work, ability, or compliance with a standard
duchy
C2
/ˈdʌtʃi/
a territory ruled by a duke or duchess, or historically held as their domain
extremity
C1
/ɪkˈstɹɛməti/
the greatest or utmost degree
draconian
C2
/dɹəˈkoʊ.ni.ən/
of or relating to Draco or his harsh code of laws
vicomte
C2
/viˈkɔ̃t/
a French nobleman holding the rank corresponding to a British viscount
criterion
B2
/kɹɪˈtɪəɹi.ən/
A standard or rule used to judge or compare things.
caveat
C2
/ˈkæviˌɑt/
a warning, reservation, or qualification attached to a statement or agreement
furtive
C2
/ˈfɝtɪv/
Of a person or an animal: sly, stealthy.
gladness
C1
/ˈɡlædnəs/
The state of being glad; joy.
impeach
B2
/ɪmˈpiːt͡ʃ/
charge (a public official) with an offense or misdemeanor committed while in office
stiffness
C1
/ˈstɪfnəs/
firm resoluteness in purpose or opinion or action
petitioner
C1
/pəˈtɪʃənɚ/
Someone who presents a petition to some person in authority.
transverse
C2
/tɹanzˈvɜːs/
Situated or lying across; side to side, relative to some defined "forward" direction; perpendicular or slanted relative to the "forward" direction; identified with movement across areas.
baronet
C2
/ˈber.ə.nət/
a man holding a hereditary British title below a baron but above most knights
contractual
C2
/kənˈtræktʃuːəl/
Relating to or required by a binding legal agreement.
omnipresent
C2
/ˌɑmnɪˈpɹɛzn̩t/
Being everywhere simultaneously.
appropriation
B1
/əˌpɹoʊpɹiˈeɪʃən/
a deliberate act of acquisition of something, often without the permission of the owner
intendant
C2
/ɪnˈtɛndənt/
a public administrator or governor, especially an official in historical France, Spain, Portugal, or their colonies
vert
C2
/vɝt/
historical forest law: green vegetation in a forest, especially as cover or food for game
eligibility
B2
/ˌel.ə.dʒəˈbɪl.ə.t̬i/
the state of meeting the conditions required to take part in, receive, or be chosen for something
dignitary
C1
/ˈdɪɡ.nəˌter.i/
a person who holds a high rank or important public office
jurisprudence
C2
/ˌdʒʊr.ɪsˈpruː.dəns/
the theory or philosophy of law and the principles by which legal systems interpret and apply it
disinherit
B2
/ˌdɪsɪnˈhɛrɪt/
to prevent someone from receiving property or money that they would otherwise inherit, especially by changing a will
ratify
C1
/ˈræt.ə.faɪ/
to give formal approval to an agreement, treaty, or decision so that it becomes officially valid