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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.
333 words
pipit
C2
/ˈpɪpɪt/
a small, slender, usually brown and streaked ground-feeding songbird, chiefly of the genus Anthus, found in open country
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crants
C2
/krænts/
obsolete: a garland or wreath, especially one carried before a maiden's bier and afterward hung over her grave
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condottiere
C2
/ˌkɑːn.dəˈtjɛr.eɪ/
historical: the commander of a mercenary company in Italy or elsewhere in Europe, especially from the fourteenth to sixteenth centuries
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whitecap
C2
/ˈwaɪtˌkæp/
a wave whose crest has broken into white foam
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conjuncture
C2
/kənˈdʒʌŋk.tʃɚ/
a combination of events or circumstances, especially one creating a critical situation
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tret
C2
/trɛt/
historical commerce: an allowance in weight made to a buyer for waste, dust, or deterioration after tare had been deducted
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dey's
C2
/deɪz/
eye dialect: there is, there are, or they are
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crossbill
C2
/ˈkrɑːsˌbɪl/
any finch of the genus Loxia whose upper and lower bill tips cross, an adaptation for extracting seeds from conifer cones
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rencontre
C2
/rɑːnˈkɑːntrə/
literary or archaic: a chance or unexpected meeting or encounter
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runnel
C2
/ˈɹʌnəl/
a small stream or rivulet
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hartshorn
C2
/ˈhɑːrtsˌhɔrn/
dated: a solution or preparation of ammonia formerly used as smelling salts
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macaco
C2
/məˈkɑːkoʊ/
a historical common name for the black lemur, Eulemur macaco, and formerly for several related lemurs
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billycock
C2
/ˈbɪl.iˌkɑːk/
dated British: a stiff felt hat with a rounded crown, similar to a bowler hat
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culverin
C2
/ˈkʌlvəɹɪn/
a long-barreled cannon used chiefly in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries
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parlourmaid
C2
/ˈpɑːr.lərˌmeɪd/
historical: a domestic maid responsible for receiving visitors, serving meals, and caring for reception rooms
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rodomontade
C2
/ˌɹɑː.də.mənˈteɪd/
formal or literary: vain, boastful, or pretentious talk or behavior
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coign
C2
/kɔɪn/
archaic spelling of quoin: an external corner or projecting angle of a wall, especially one emphasized with contrasting masonry
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coccus
C2
/ˈkɑːkəs/
a bacterium with a spherical or roughly spherical shape
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plastron
C2
/ˈplæstrən/
the lower, usually flatter part of a turtle's or tortoise's shell
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fardel
C2
/ˈfɑɹdəl/
archaic or literary: a bundle carried as a load; figuratively, a burden
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piastre
C2
/piˈæstɚ/
historical: a coin or monetary unit of varying value, especially a Spanish piece of eight or an Ottoman currency unit
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elogium
C2
/ɪˈloʊdʒiəm/
a formal expression of praise; an encomium or eulogy
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chrysolite
C2
/ˈkɹɪs.əˌlaɪt/
a yellow-green or golden-green gem variety of olivine, now generally called peridot
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tumbril
C2
/ˈtʌmbɹɪl/
historical: a cart used to carry condemned prisoners to execution, especially to the guillotine during the French Revolution
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charivari
C2
/ʃɑːɹɪˈvɑːɹi/
historical: a noisy mock serenade made with pots, pans, and other instruments, traditionally directed at newlyweds or a disapproved couple
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poniard
C2
/ˈpɑn.jɚd/
historical: a dagger with a slender blade, often of triangular or square cross section
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houri
C2
/ˈhʊri/
in Islamic tradition, one of the beautiful companions of the blessed in Paradise
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sardius
C2
/ˈsɑːɹ.di.əs/
historical or biblical: sard, a translucent brownish-red to deep orange-red variety of chalcedony used as a gemstone
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womenkind
C2
/ˈwɪmɪnkaɪnd/
women considered collectively; womankind
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blackcock
C2
/ˈblækˌkɑk/
chiefly British: a male black grouse, distinguished by glossy dark plumage and a lyre-shaped tail
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irid
C2+
/ˈaɪrɪd/
archaic: the iris, or colored ring surrounding the pupil of the eye
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transfinite
C2
/tɹænsˈfaɪnaɪt/
A transfinite number.
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polypus
C2
/ˈpɑː.lɪ.pəs/
dated medical: a polyp, especially a growth projecting from a mucous membrane
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gemmule
C2
/ˈdʒemˌjuːl/
a small asexual reproductive bud or resistant cluster of cells, especially one produced by a sponge or another simple organism
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habitude
C2
/ˈhæb.ɪ.tuːd/
formal or historical: a habitual disposition, customary mode of behaviour, or established way of acting
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flota
C2
/ˈfloʊtə/
historical: a fleet of Spanish ships, especially the convoy that carried goods and treasure between Spain and its American colonies
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nurserymaid
C2
/ˈnɝː.sɚ.iˌmeɪd/
historical, chiefly British: a female domestic servant employed to care for young children, often as an assistant to a nurse or nanny
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blackbeetle
C2+
/ˈblækˌbiːtəl/
chiefly British: the Oriental cockroach, a large dark-brown or blackish cockroach
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crap
C2+
/kræp/
nonsense or worthless rubbish (vulgar)
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ruth
C2+
/ruθ/
compassion or pity for another's suffering (archaic)
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confab
C2+
/ˈkɑnfæb/
an informal conversation or discussion; to chat
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eld
C2+
/ɛld/
old age or antiquity; former times (archaic)
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wark
C2+
/wɑrk/
pain or ache; to ache (dialectal or archaic)
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bowels
C2+
/ˈbaʊəlz/
the intestines; the deep interior of something; (archaic) seat of pity
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cack
C2+
/kæk/
excrement; (verb, dialectal) to defecate
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decease
C2+
/dɪˈsis/
(formal/legal) death; to die
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despect
C2+
/dɪˈspɛkt/
contempt or disregard (archaic)
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applesauce
C2+
/ˈæpəlsɔːs/
a purée of stewed apples; slang for nonsense
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benj
C2+
/bɛndʒ/
dialectal name for henbane or, in slang, marijuana used as an intoxicant
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cag
C2+
/kæɡ/
British informal, a lightweight waterproof jacket; a cagoule
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china
C2+
/ˈtʃaɪnə/
fine porcelain tableware; British rhyming slang for a close friend
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curio
C2+
/ˈkjʊrioʊ/
a rare or unusual object valued as a curiosity
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eremite
C2+
/ˈɛrəˌmaɪt/
a religious recluse; a hermit (literary)
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beest
C2+
/bist/
the first milk of a cow after calving (colostrum); archaic 'art'
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camelopard
C2+
/kəˈmɛləˌpɑrd/
an archaic name for the giraffe
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eve
C2+
/iv/
the day or evening before a notable event; (poetic) evening
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liss
C2+
/lɪs/
(archaic/dialectal) relief or respite; to relieve or assuage
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alco
C2+
/ˈælkoʊ/
(slang) an alcoholic or heavy drinker
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amoret
C2+
/ˈæmərɛt/
a love token, a sweetheart, or a little cupid (archaic)
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apologia
C2+
/ˌæpəˈloʊdʒiə/
a formal written defence of one's opinions or conduct
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bae
C2+
/beɪ/
a romantic partner or sweetheart (slang)
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battercake
C2+
/ˈbætɚˌkeɪk/
a thin cake fried from batter; a pancake (dialectal)
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beck
C2+
/bɛk/
a gesture of command or summons; a small stream (dialectal)
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bonce
C2+
/bɑns/
(British slang) the head
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bumbershoot
C2+
/ˈbʌmbɚˌʃut/
(US informal, dated) an umbrella
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buss
C2+
/bʌs/
(archaic or dialectal) a kiss; to kiss
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coistril
C2+
/ˈkɔɪstrəl/
a knave or base fellow; a groom or knight's attendant (archaic)
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dick
C2+
/dɪk/
a detective (informal, dated slang)
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fag
C2+
/fæɡ/
a tiring or tedious task; (British informal) a cigarette
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gat
C2+
/ɡæt/
a pistol or handgun (slang); also a channel between sandbanks
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gob
C2+
/ɡɑb/
a lump or mass; also slang for the mouth
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jones
C2+
/ˈdʒoʊnz/
a strong craving or addiction (slang); to crave intensely
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morn
C2+
/mɔrn/
morning (chiefly poetic or archaic)
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noontide
C2+
/ˈnuntaɪd/
the time of noon; midday (literary)
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pact
C2+
/pækt/
a formal agreement or treaty between parties
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pong
C2+
/pɔŋ/
a strong unpleasant smell (British informal)
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twain
C2+
/tweɪn/
two; a pair (archaic)
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adzooks
C2+
/ædˈzuks/
an archaic exclamation of surprise or annoyance
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alack
C2+
/əˈlæk/
an archaic exclamation expressing sorrow or regret
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amanuensis
C2+
/əˌmænjuˈɛnsɪs/
a literary or artistic assistant who writes from dictation or copies manuscripts
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beambird
C2+
/ˈbimˌbɝd/
a dialectal name for the spotted flycatcher
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benchfellow
C2+
/ˈbɛntʃˌfɛloʊ/
one who shares a bench; a companion or colleague (archaic)
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bingle
C2+
/ˈbɪŋɡəl/
Australian slang for a minor crash or collision, especially of vehicles
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cheerio
C2+
/ˌtʃɪriˈoʊ/
a chiefly British expression used as a farewell
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cig
C2+
/sɪɡ/
an informal shortening of cigarette
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commie
C2+
/ˈkɑmi/
a communist (informal, usually derogatory)
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cuke
C2+
/kjuk/
an informal shortening of cucumber
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defeature
C2+
/dɪˈfitʃər/
defeat or undoing; disfigurement (archaic)
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dictum
C2+
/ˈdɪktəm/
a formal pronouncement or an authoritative saying
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doddle
C2+
/ˈdɑdəl/
something accomplished very easily (British informal)
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emmet
C2+
/ˈɛmət/
an ant (archaic or dialectal)
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hehe
C2+
/ˈhiːhiː/
an informal written representation of soft or sly laughter
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holt
C2+
/hoʊlt/
a small wood or copse; also an otter's den (archaic, dialectal)
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investiture
C2+
/ɪnˈvɛstətʃɚ/
the formal ceremony of conferring rank, office, or authority
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loo
C2+
/lu/
(British informal) a toilet
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mack
C2+
/mæk/
(informal) a raincoat (mackintosh); or to flirt aggressively
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