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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.
1043 words
astrakhan
C2
/æs.trəˈkæn/
the tightly curled black or gray fleece of a young karakul lamb, used as fur
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dromedary
C2
/ˈdrɑməˌdɛri/
the one-humped camel of North Africa and southwestern Asia
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cubist
C2
/ˈkjuː.bɪst/
an artist who works in the style of cubism
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hominy
C2
/ˈhɑːməni/
maize kernels treated with an alkali to remove the hulls, eaten whole or dried and ground into grits
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novitiate
C2+
/nəˈvɪʃi.ət/
The period during which a novice of a religious order undergoes training.
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corollary
C2
/kɒˈɹɒləɹi/
a practical consequence that follows naturally
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self-knowledge
C2+
/ˌsɛlfˈnɑl.ɪdʒ/
Knowledge or insight into one's own character, abilities, feelings, or motivations; self-understanding.
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recidivist
C2
/ɹɪˈsɪdɪvɪst/
One who falls back into prior habits, especially criminal habits.
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fetter
C2
/ˈfet.ə/
a chain or shackle placed around the feet or legs to restrict movement
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halfpenny
C2
/ˈheɪp(ə)ni/
an English coin worth half a penny
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grandee
C2
/ɡrænˈdiː/
a nobleman of the highest rank in Spain or Portugal
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millinery
C2
/ˈmɪl.əˌner.i/
women's hats and related decorative headwear considered collectively
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stanchion
C2
/ˈstæn.tʃən/
an upright post, pole, or bar used to support a structure or form part of a barrier
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blue jay
C2
/ˈbluːˌdʒeɪ/
a crested North American jay with bright blue, white, and black plumage
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teetotaller
C2
/ˈtitoʊtəlɚ/
a total abstainer from alchohol
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encyclical
C2
/ɛnˈsɪk.lɪ.kəl/
an authoritative pastoral letter issued by the pope and circulated broadly within the Roman Catholic Church
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perfumery
C2
/pɚˈfjuːməri/
perfumes or fragrant preparations collectively
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rub-a-dub
C2
/ˌrʌb ə ˈdʌb/
the repeated beating or sound of a drum; a continuous rhythmic drumming
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augury
C2
/ˈɔː.ɡjʊ.ɹi/
an event that is experienced as indicating important things to come
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laneway
C1
/ˈleɪnˌweɪ/
a narrow road, lane, alley, or passage, often running behind or between buildings
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capstan
C2
/ˈkæpstən/
a vertical revolving cylinder used to wind a rope or cable and exert heavy pulling force, especially aboard a ship
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conveyancing
C2
/kənˈveɪənsɪŋ/
the legal work of preparing documents and completing the transfer of property from one owner to another
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missal
C2
/ˈmɪsəl/
a book containing the prayers and texts used in the Roman Catholic Mass
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armorer
C2
a manufacturer of firearms
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tensor
C2
/ˈtɛn.sɚ/
A mathematical object that describes linear relations on scalars, vectors, matrices and other algebraic objects, and is represented as a multidimensional array.
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haymaker
C2
/ˈheɪˌmeɪkɚ/
a powerful, often wide-swinging punch intended to knock an opponent down
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glower
C2+
/ˈɡloʊə(ɹ)/
An angry glare or stare.
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supplicant
C2
/ˈsʌplɪkənt/
one who comes to humbly ask or petition
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glossary
C1
/ˈɡlɔ.sə.ɹi/
an alphabetical list of technical terms in some specialized field of knowledge
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peahen
C1
/ˈpiːˌhɛn/
an adult female peafowl
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ethnologist
C2
/ɛθˈnɑːlədʒɪst/
a scholar who studies and compares peoples, cultures, and social institutions, especially within the field of ethnology
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stripling
C2
/ˈstrɪplɪŋ/
a juvenile between the onset of puberty and maturity
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soldiery
C2
/ˈsəʊldʒəɹi/
Soldiers considered as a group.
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carnelian
C2
/kɑɹˈniː.li.ən/
a translucent red, orange, or reddish-brown variety of chalcedony used as a gemstone
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outcropping
C1
/ˈaʊtˌkrɑː.pɪŋ/
a part of a rock formation that is exposed at the surface of the surrounding ground
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spread-eagle
C2+
/ˈsprɛdˌiːɡəl/
a representation of an eagle with its wings and legs extended
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pleasantry
C2
/ˈplɛzəntɹi/
A playful remark; a jest.
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lawgiver
C2
/ˈlɔˌɡɪv.ɚ/
One who provides laws to a society.
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pince-nez
C2+
/pænsˈneɪ/
Templeless eyeglasses that clip to the bridge of the nose.
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physiologist
C2
/ˌfɪziːˈɑːlədʒɪst/
a biologist specializing in physiology
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pneumatics
C1
/nuːˈmætɪks/
the branch of mechanics concerned with gases and their use to transmit force, especially through compressed air
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assize
C2
/əˈsaɪz/
A statute or ordinance, especially one regulating weights and measures.
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hatful
C1
/ˈhætˌfʊl/
the amount that a hat can hold
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oculist
C2
/ˈɑkjəlɪst/
dated: a specialist who diagnoses or treats eye disorders or tests vision
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chanticleer
C2
/ˌtʃæntɪˈklɪr/
literary: a rooster, especially one personified in a fable or story
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concomitant
C2
/kənˈkɑːmətənt/
Something happening or existing at the same time.
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gloaming
C2
/ˈɡloʊ.mɪŋ/
twilight or dusk, especially the dim light just after sunset
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roentgen
C2
/ˈrent.ɡən/
a non-SI unit of exposure to X-rays or gamma rays, equal to 0.000258 coulomb per kilogram of dry air
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coquetry
C2
/ˈkoʊkətri/
playfully flirtatious behavior intended to attract interest, often without serious romantic intent
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sweetbriar
C2
/ˈswiːtˌbraɪər/
a Eurasian wild rose with prickly stems, fragrant leaves, pink flowers, and red hips
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tautology
C2
/tɔˈtɑl.ə.d͡ʒi/
useless repetition
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revelling
C2
/ˈɹɛvəlɪŋ/
boisterous or festive celebration, especially with drinking; revelry
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caricaturist
C1
/ˌker.ə.kəˈtʃʊr.ɪst/
an artist or writer who creates caricatures by exaggerating distinctive features for comic, critical, or satirical effect
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ptarmigan
C2
/ˈtɑːmɪɡən/
large Arctic and subarctic grouse with feathered feet and usually white winter plumage
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bushranger
C2
/ˈbʊʃˌreɪn.dʒɚ/
historical Australian usage: an escaped convict or other outlaw who lived in the bush and survived by robbery
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ecliptic
C2
/ɪˈklɪptɪk/
the great circle on the celestial sphere representing the Sun's apparent yearly path
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classicist
C2
/ˈklæs.ɪ.sɪst/
a scholar who studies the languages, literature, and cultures of ancient Greece and Rome
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mottling
C2
/ˈmɑːtəlɪŋ/
spots or blotches of different shades or colours
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pedantry
C2
/ˈpɛdəntri/
an ostentatious or ill-timed display of learning
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ortolan
C2
/ˈɔːrtələn/
a small migratory Eurasian bunting, Emberiza hortulana, historically fattened and eaten as a delicacy
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mineralogist
C2
/ˌmɪn.əˈrɑː.lə.dʒɪst/
a scientist who studies the formation, composition, properties, and classification of minerals
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deviltry
C2
/ˈdɛv.əl.tri/
wicked, malicious, or recklessly mischievous behavior
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philter
C2
/ˈfɪltɚ/
a supposedly magical potion, especially one intended to arouse love
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directress
C2
/dəˈrɛktrəs/
A female director.
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tragedian
C2
/trəˈdʒiːdiən/
an actor who specializes in tragic roles
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currier
C2
/ˈkʌɹɪɚ/
a craftsperson who dresses and finishes tanned leather by scraping, softening, coloring, and treating it
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trumpery
C2
/ˈtɹʌmpəɹi/
showy but worthless objects, ornaments, or finery
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rat-trap
C2+
/ˈrætˌtræp/
a trap designed to catch or kill rats, typically by snapping shut
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porphyry
C2
/ˈpɔɹ.fɪ.ɹi/
an igneous rock containing conspicuous large crystals within a much finer-grained groundmass
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albumen
C2
/ˈælbjʊmən/
the white part of an egg
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ditchwater
C2+
/ˈdɪtʃˌwɔtɚ/
stagnant, usually dirty water collected in a roadside or field ditch
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descant
C2
/ˈdɛskænt/
A lengthy discourse on a subject.
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perihelion
C2
/ˌpɛɹ.əˈhiː.li.ən/
The point in the elliptical orbit of a comet, planet, etc., where it is nearest to the Sun.
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snuffer
C2
/ˈsnʌfɚ/
a small cone or bell on a handle used to extinguish a candle flame
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bandolier
C2
/ˌbæn.dəˈlɪr/
a belt worn over one shoulder with loops or pockets for carrying cartridges
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mummery
C2
/ˈmʌməɹi/
a ridiculous, showy, or insincere ceremony or performance
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scutter
C2+
/ˈskʌtə(ɹ)/
A hasty run.
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bootmaker
C2
/ˈbuːtˌmeɪ.kɚ/
a craftsperson or manufacturer who makes boots
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mineralogy
C2
/ˌmɪnəˈɹɑlədʒi/
the branch of geology that studies minerals, including their composition, structure, properties, and classification
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fungible
C2+
/ˈfʌndʒɪbəl/
Any fungible item.
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bacteriologist
C2
/bækˌtɪriˈɑlədʒɪst/
a scientist who specializes in the study of bacteria
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malmsey
C2
/ˈmɑ(l)mzi/
a rich sweet fortified wine, especially a Madeira made from the Malvasia grape
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flivver
C2
/ˈflɪv.ɚ/
an automobile or cart, particularly one which is old and inexpensive.
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tanager
C2
/ˈtænədʒɚ/
any of numerous, often brightly colored songbirds native to the Americas
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miscellany
C2
/ˈmɪsəˌleɪni/
a varied collection or mixture of different kinds of things
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empiricist
C2
/emˈpɪr.ə.sɪst/
a philosopher or thinker who holds that knowledge comes chiefly from experience and observation
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blether
C2
/ˈblɛðər/
chiefly Scottish and Northern English: foolish, idle, or long-winded talk
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roguery
C2
/ˈroʊɡəri/
dishonest, unscrupulous, or criminal behavior characteristic of a rogue
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metaphysician
C2
/ˌmɛtəfɪˈzɪʃən/
a philosopher who studies or develops theories about metaphysics
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pleader
C2
/ˈpliːdɚ/
formal or historical: a lawyer or advocate who pleads cases in court
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reflexion
C2
/ɹɪˈflɛkʃ(ə)n/
Uncommon spelling of reflection.
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hearer
C2
/ˈhɪɹɚ/
One who hears.
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speechmaking
C2
/ˈspiːtʃˌmeɪ.kɪŋ/
delivering an address to a public audience
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quaver
C2
/ˈkweɪvər/
in British musical terminology, a note with half the time value of a crotchet; an eighth note
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baptistry
C2
/ˈbæp.tɪ.stri/
a part of a church, or a separate building beside one, where baptisms are performed
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bilberry
C2
/ˈbɪl.bɛr.i/
a small dark-blue edible berry resembling a blueberry and growing wild in northern Europe
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