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
365 words
ruction
C2
/ˈrʌkʃən/
informal: a noisy quarrel, fight, or angry disturbance
outrider
C2
/ˈaʊtˌraɪ.dɚ/
a mounted escort who rides ahead of or beside a procession, vehicle, or body of travelers
impressment
C2
/ɪmˈprɛsmənt/
historical: the forcible recruitment of people into military service, especially sailors into a navy
militate
C2
/ˈmɪlɪteɪt/
To give force or effect toward; to influence.
zouave
C2
/zuːˈɑːv/
a soldier of a French light-infantry corps originally recruited in Algeria and known for a distinctive, brightly colored uniform
unwonted
C2
/ʌnˈwɑntɪd/
out of the ordinary
culverin
C2
/ˈkʌlvəɹɪn/
a long-barreled cannon used chiefly in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries
caltrop
C2
/ˈkæl.trəp/
a small metal device with four spikes arranged so that one point always faces upward, used to injure feet, hooves, or tires
refulgent
C2
/ɹəˈfʌld͡ʒənt/
As if giving off light or warmth.
zareba
C2
/zəˈriːbə/
an improvised defensive enclosure or stockade, especially one made from thorn bushes in parts of Africa
breastwork
C2
/ˈbrɛstˌwɝːk/
a low defensive wall or earthwork high enough to protect a fighter's chest
unlimber
C2
/ˌʌnˈlɪmbər/
to detach an artillery piece from its limber and make it ready to fire
ambuscade
C2
/ˈæm.bəˌskeɪd/
an ambush, or a concealed position from which a surprise attack is made
linstock
C2
/ˈlɪnˌstɑk/
A pointed forked staff, shod with iron at the foot, to hold a lighted match for firing cannon.
poniard
C2
/ˈpɑn.jɚd/
historical: a dagger with a slender blade, often of triangular or square cross section
sighter
C2+
/ˈsaɪ.tɚ/
a preliminary or practice shot used to test aim, range, or conditions
polemarch
C2
/ˈpɑləˌmɑɹk/
in ancient Greece, a senior military commander or war leader
bowshot
C2
/ˈboʊˌʃɑt/
the distance over which an arrow can be shot effectively from a bow
besieger
C2
/bɪˈsiː.dʒɚ/
a person or force that surrounds and attacks a fortified place in order to make it surrender
sally port
C2
/ˈsæli ˌpɔːrt/
a small gate or passage in a fortified place through which defenders can make a sortie
catapulta
C2
/ˌkætəˈpʌltə/
historical: a Roman military engine for launching arrows, stones, or other projectiles
jezail
C2+
/dʒəˈzeɪl/
a long-barreled Afghan matchlock or flintlock musket, often fired from a forked rest
air force
B1
fire brigade
B2
savage
C2+
/ˈsævɪdʒ/
fierce, violent, or uncontrolled; (verb) to attack ferociously
peaceable
C2+
/ˈpisəbəl/
inclined to avoid conflict; peaceful in disposition
enlist
C2+
/ɪnˈlɪst/
to enroll in the armed forces, or to secure someone's help
brawl
C2+
/brɔl/
a rough, noisy fight or quarrel
foe
C2+
/foʊ/
an enemy or adversary
quisling
C2+
/ˈkwɪzlɪŋ/
a traitor who collaborates with an occupying enemy
stratagem
C2+
/ˈstrætədʒəm/
a plan or scheme to deceive an enemy or gain an advantage
bellicose
C2+
/ˈbɛlɪˌkoʊs/
inclined to fighting or war; aggressively hostile
combative
C2+
/kəmˈbætɪv/
ready or eager to fight or argue
fortify
C2+
/ˈfɔrtəˌfaɪ/
to strengthen against attack; to reinforce or invigorate
pacifist
C2+
/ˈpæsɪfɪst/
a person who opposes war and violence on principle
affray
C2+
/əˈfreɪ/
a noisy public fight or brawl disturbing the peace
apologetic
C2+
/əˌpɑləˈdʒɛtɪk/
expressing or showing regret; offered in defence of something
apologia
C2+
/ˌæpəˈloʊdʒiə/
a formal written defence of one's opinions or conduct
battleground
C2+
/ˈbætəlˌɡraʊnd/
a place where a battle is or was fought; an arena of conflict
irruption
C2+
/ɪˈrʌpʃən/
a sudden violent bursting in or invasion
nuke
C2+
/nuk/
to attack with nuclear weapons; (informal) to heat in a microwave
projectile
C2+
/prəˈdʒɛktl/
an object propelled through the air, especially as a weapon
vanquish
C2+
/ˈvæŋkwɪʃ/
to defeat thoroughly in battle or competition
aggress
C2+
/əˈɡrɛs/
to attack or behave aggressively toward another
agon
C2+
/ˈæɡɑn/
a conflict or struggle, especially the central one in a drama
apologetics
C2+
/əˌpɑləˈdʒɛtɪks/
the systematic defense of a doctrine, especially a religious one
armament
C2+
/ˈɑrməmənt/
military weapons and equipment, or the process of arming for war
assail
C2+
/əˈseɪl/
to attack violently, or to beset with criticism or troubling thoughts
bandit
C2+
/ˈbændɪt/
a robber or outlaw, typically one of an armed band
belligerency
C2+
/bəˈlɪdʒərənsi/
the state of being at war or engaged in hostile conflict
bombardment
C2+
/bɑmˈbɑrdmənt/
a continuous attack with bombs, shells, or other projectiles
defenseless
C2+
/dɪˈfɛnsləs/
lacking any means of protection or defense
dovish
C2+
/ˈdʌvɪʃ/
favoring peace or conciliatory policies over confrontation
embroil
C2+
/ɪmˈbrɔɪl/
to involve someone deeply in conflict or difficulty
foeman
C2+
/ˈfoʊmən/
an enemy in war; an opponent in combat
grapple
C2+
/ˈɡræpəl/
to struggle or wrestle in close combat; to grip firmly
gunstock
C2+
/ˈɡʌnˌstɑk/
the wooden support to which a gun's barrel and mechanism are fixed
irenic
C2+
/aɪˈrɛnɪk/
aiming at or promoting peace and conciliation
irenical
C2+
/aɪˈrɛnɪkəl/
tending toward peace or reconciliation; conciliatory
pacification
C2+
/ˌpæsɪfɪˈkeɪʃən/
the act of bringing peace or suppressing hostility
pacifism
C2+
/ˈpæsɪfɪzəm/
the belief that disputes should be settled without violence or war
pacifistic
C2+
/ˌpæsɪˈfɪstɪk/
opposed to violence or war as a means of settling disputes
quisle
C2+
/ˈkwɪzəl/
to act as a traitor or collaborator with an enemy
raider
C2+
/ˈreɪdɚ/
one who makes a sudden attack to seize, plunder, or disrupt
shiv
C2+
/ʃɪv/
a homemade or improvised knife, especially one used as a weapon
torpedo
C2+
/tɔrˈpiːdoʊ/
a self-propelled underwater missile; to attack or wreck something
beleaguered
C1
/bɪˈliːɡərd/
experiencing difficulties or trouble, often due to being surrounded by problems
skirmish
B2
/ˈskɝmɪʃ/
a small fight or battle between two groups
trierarch
C2
/ˈtraɪ.əˌrɑːrk/
a commander or captain of a trireme in the ancient Greek world
reinvasion
C2
/ˌriːɪnˈveɪʒən/
a renewed or subsequent invasion
quick-firer
C2+
/ˈkwɪkˌfaɪr.ɚ/
historical: a gun designed to fire rounds in rapid succession, especially a late-nineteenth- or early-twentieth-century naval or field gun
ensigncy
C2
/ˈen.sən.si/
historical: the rank, office, or commission of an ensign, especially a junior officer in an army regiment
axite
C2+
/ˈækˌsaɪt/
historical: a proprietary smokeless powder used as a propellant in rifle cartridges
habergeon
C2
/ˈhæbərdʒən/
historical: a short, sleeveless or short-sleeved coat of mail, lighter than a hauberk
twelve-pounder
C2+
/ˌtwɛlvˈpaʊndər/
a cannon classified as firing a projectile weighing twelve pounds
war whoop
C2+
/ˈwɔrˌwuːp/
historical: a loud cry used as a signal or expression of aggression when entering battle
rencounter
C2
/ˌrɛnˈkaʊntər/
to meet, encounter, or collide with