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
489 words
chilblain
C2
/ˈtʃɪlbleɪn/
an itchy, swollen patch of skin caused by an abnormal reaction to cold and damp conditions
tertian
C2
/ˈtɝːʃən/
medical, especially of a fever: recurring every other day, or every third day by inclusive counting
ophthalmia
C2
/ɑfˈθælmiə/
inflammation of the conjunctiva or eyeball; an older general medical term for inflammatory eye disease
stertorous
C2
/ˈstɝ.tɚ.əs/
characterized by heavy, noisy breathing that resembles snoring
sudorific
C2
/ˌsudəˈɹɪfɪk/
That produces sweating.
dropsical
C2
/ˈdrɑpsɪkəl/
dated medicine: affected by or relating to dropsy, an abnormal accumulation of fluid in body tissues or cavities
remittent
C1
/rɪˈmɪtənt/
medicine: decreasing in severity at intervals without disappearing completely
cicatrix
C2
/ˈsɪkəˌtrɪks/
a scar formed as fibrous tissue replaces or contracts over a healed wound
expectorate
C2
/ɪkˈspɛktəɹeɪt/
to cough up and expel phlegm or other material from the lungs or throat
mormal
C2
/ˈmɔːr.məl/
A bad sore; a gangrene or cancer
suffusion
C2
/səˈfjuːʒən/
the spreading of a bodily fluid, especially blood, into surrounding tissue
tragus
C2
/ˈtreɪɡəs/
the small pointed flap of cartilage immediately in front of the opening of the external ear
exanthem
C2
/ɪɡˈzænθəm/
a widespread skin eruption or rash occurring as a symptom of disease
parturient
C2
/pɑrˈtʊriənt/
In labour, about to give birth, or having recently given birth.
innervate
C2
/ɪˈnɝˌveɪt/
stimulate to action
polydactylism
C2
/ˌpɑːliˈdæktəlɪzəm/
the congenital condition of having more than the usual number of fingers or toes
engraftment
C2
/ɪnˈɡræft.mənt/
medicine: the successful incorporation and growth of transplanted cells or tissue in a recipient
asepsis
C2
/eɪˈsɛpsɪs/
the state of being free from disease-causing microorganisms
opium-eater
C2+
/ˈoʊpiəm ˌiːtər/
historical: a person who habitually consumes opium, especially for intoxication; an opium user or addict
invalidism
C2
/ˈɪnvəlɪˌdɪzəm/
a chronic condition of illness, frailty, or incapacity that makes someone an invalid
polypus
C2
/ˈpɑː.lɪ.pəs/
dated medical: a polyp, especially a growth projecting from a mucous membrane
cicatrize
C2
/ˈsɪkəˌtraɪz/
of a wound, to heal through the formation of scar tissue
qualmish
C2+
/ˈkwɑːmɪʃ/
Affected with qualms; queasy, nauseous
panniculus
C2
/pəˈnɪkjələs/
a thin sheet or layer of bodily tissue, especially a layer beneath the skin
health care
B2
aggrieve
C2+
/əˈɡriv/
to cause distress or injury to someone, especially by unjust treatment
damnify
C2+
/ˈdæmnɪfaɪ/
to cause loss or injury to, especially in legal contexts
cannabis
C2+
/ˈkænəbɪs/
a plant whose dried parts are used as a drug and for fiber
diseased
C2+
/dɪˈzizd/
affected by or suffering from disease; unhealthy
medic
C2+
/ˈmɛdɪk/
a person trained to give medical treatment, especially in the field
therapeutic
C2+
/ˌθɛrəˈpjutɪk/
relating to the healing or curing of disease; soothing
atonement
C2+
/əˈtoʊnmənt/
reparation or amends made for a wrong or injury
curative
C2+
/ˈkjʊrətɪv/
able to cure disease; a remedy
operable
C2+
/ˈɑpərəbəl/
able to be used or operated; suitable for surgery
redress
C2+
/rɪˈdrɛs/
remedy or compensation for a wrong or grievance
sawbones
C2+
/ˈsɔboʊnz/
a slang term for a surgeon or doctor
ailment
C2+
/ˈeɪlmənt/
a minor illness or bodily disorder
algid
C2+
/ˈældʒɪd/
cold or chilly, especially of the body during illness
convalescence
C2+
/ˌkɑnvəˈlɛsəns/
the gradual recovery of health after illness
gaunt
C2+
/ɡɔnt/
lean and haggard, especially from illness or hardship
grippe
C2+
/ɡrɪp/
influenza; a feverish respiratory illness (dated)
healthful
C2+
/ˈhɛlθfəl/
conducive to good health; wholesome
indisposition
C2+
/ˌɪndɪspəˈzɪʃən/
a slight illness; an unwillingness or aversion
infective
C2+
/ɪnˈfɛktɪv/
capable of causing infection; communicating disease
medicament
C2+
/məˈdɪkəmənt/
a substance used in medical treatment; a medicine
medicate
C2+
/ˈmɛdɪˌkeɪt/
to treat with medicine or a drug
pallid
C2+
/ˈpælɪd/
pale, especially from illness or lack of vitality
pharmaceutical
C2+
/ˌfɑrməˈsutɪkəl/
relating to medicinal drugs, or such a drug itself
physic
C2+
/ˈfɪzɪk/
a medicine, especially a purgative; the art of healing (archaic)
preventative
C2+
/prɪˈvɛntətɪv/
serving to prevent something, especially disease
refractory
C2+
/rɪˈfræktəri/
stubbornly resistant to control or treatment
restitution
C2+
/ˌrɛstɪˈtuʃən/
the restoration of something lost or the compensation for injury or loss
sickly
C2+
/ˈsɪkli/
often ill or unhealthy, or suggesting illness
tranquillize
C2+
/ˈtræŋkwəlaɪz/
to make calm or sedate, especially with a drug
alterative
C2+
/ˈɔltəˌreɪtɪv/
tending to alter, or a remedy that gradually restores healthy bodily function
amends
C2+
/əˈmɛndz/
reparation or compensation made for a wrong or injury
asymptomatic
C2+
/ˌeɪsɪmptəˈmætɪk/
producing or showing no symptoms of disease
atrophy
C2+
/ˈætrəfi/
the wasting away of a body part or faculty from disuse or disease
cauterize
C2+
/ˈkɔtəˌraɪz/
to burn tissue to stop bleeding or prevent infection
cephalalgia
C2+
/ˌsɛfəˈlældʒiə/
headache, especially as a medical symptom
clinically
C2+
/ˈklɪnɪkli/
in a manner relating to medical treatment, or coldly objectively
contumely
C2+
/ˈkɑntəˌmili/
insolent or contemptuous treatment; humiliating rudeness
dentistry
C2+
/ˈdɛntɪstri/
the branch of medicine concerned with the teeth and gums
diagnostic
C2+
/ˌdaɪəɡˈnɑstɪk/
relating to the identification of a disease or problem
fastigium
C2+
/fæˈstɪdʒiəm/
the highest point or apex, especially the peak of a fever or disease
finishing
C2+
/ˈfɪnɪʃɪŋ/
the final stage or surface treatment of a process
healthiness
C2+
/ˈhɛlθinəs/
the state of being healthy or conducive to health
hospitalization
C2+
/ˌhɑspɪtələˈzeɪʃən/
the act of admitting or the period of staying in a hospital for treatment
hygienics
C2+
/haɪˈdʒɛnɪks/
the science or principles of hygiene and the preservation of health
immunity
C2+
/ɪˈmjunəti/
protection from disease, obligation, or legal liability
inpatient
C2+
/ˈɪnˌpeɪʃənt/
a patient who stays in a hospital while receiving treatment
inviolate
C2+
/ɪnˈvaɪələt/
free from violation, injury, or desecration; intact
maladive
C2+
/ˈmælədɪv/
sickly; tending toward illness
medicinal
C2+
/məˈdɪsənəl/
having healing properties; relating to medicine
morbid
C2+
/ˈmɔrbɪd/
abnormally preoccupied with death or disease; gruesome
morbific
C2+
/mɔrˈbɪfɪk/
causing or producing disease
murrain
C2+
/ˈmɜrɪn/
an infectious disease affecting cattle or other livestock
obstetrics
C2+
/əbˈstɛtrɪks/
the branch of medicine concerned with childbirth and pregnancy care
pestilence
C2+
/ˈpɛstɪləns/
a fatal epidemic disease, especially the plague
prophylactic
C2+
/ˌproʊfəˈlæktɪk/
intended to prevent disease; a preventive measure or device
reparation
C2+
/ˌrɛpəˈreɪʃən/
compensation made for a wrong or injury; the act of making amends
retaliation
C2+
/rɪˌtæliˈeɪʃən/
the act of returning an injury or wrong for one received; reprisal
scald
C2+
/skɔld/
to burn with hot liquid or steam; an injury so caused
seizure
C2+
/ˈsiʒɚ/
a sudden attack of illness; the act of taking forcible possession
sniffle
C2+
/ˈsnɪfəl/
to draw air audibly through the nose, as when crying or sick
trank
C2+
/træŋk/
slang for a tranquilizer or sedative drug
treatable
C2+
/ˈtriːtəbəl/
able to be cured or managed by medical or other treatment
vaccinate
C2+
/ˈvæksɪneɪt/
to treat with a vaccine to produce immunity against a disease
vengeance
C2+
/ˈvɛndʒəns/
punishment inflicted in retaliation for an injury or offense
victimization
C2+
/ˌvɪktɪməˈzeɪʃən/
the act of making someone a victim through harm or unfair treatment
wellness
C2+
/ˈwɛl.nəs/
the state of being in good health, especially as actively pursued
inoculation
C1
/ɪˌnɑːkjəˈleɪʃən/
the action of immunizing someone against a disease by introducing infective material, microorganisms, or vaccine into the body
microcephalous
C2+
/ˌmaɪkroʊˈsɛfələs/
having an abnormally small head, usually as a result of microcephaly; also used comparatively in anatomy
anaesthesis
C2+
/ˌænəsˈθiːsɪs/
loss or absence of bodily sensation; insensibility
defibrinate
C2+
/dɪˈfaɪbɹɪneɪt/
to remove fibrin from blood, preventing or reducing clot formation
medico-jurist
C2+
/ˌmɛdɪkoʊˈdʒʊrɪst/
dated: a physician or medical expert who applies medical knowledge to legal questions; a specialist in medical jurisprudence