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
1623 words
thoughtless
B2
/ˈθɔtləs/
Not thinking about how your actions affect other people; inconsiderate.
cavalier
C2
/ˌkævəˈlɪɚ/
showing an arrogant or dismissive lack of proper concern
beneficiary
C2
/ˌbɛn.ɪˈfɪʃ.ɚ.i/
A person who gains an advantage or benefit from something.
senorita
C2
/ˌsen.jəˈriː.t̬ə/
a Spanish or Spanish-speaking girl or unmarried young woman, especially when addressed or referred to with the title equivalent to Miss
breathless
B1
/ˈbɹɛθləs/
Having difficulty breathing, especially after effort.
smother
C2
/ˈsməðər/
deprive of the oxygen necessary for combustion
unattractive
B2
/ˌənəˈtræktɪv/
Not pleasant to look at; lacking beauty or charm.
gent
C1
/dʒɛnt/
an informal term for a man, especially one regarded as a gentleman
condone
C2
/kənˈdoʊn/
To accept or forgive behaviour that most people think is wrong.
scavenger
C2
/ˈskævəndʒɝ/
An animal that feeds on dead bodies or rotting matter.
stereotype
B2
/ˈstɛɹ.i.əˌtaɪp/
A fixed, oversimplified idea about what a person or group is like.
watcher
B1
/ˈwɑːtʃər/
a person who watches or closely observes someone or something
spectator
B1
/ˈspɛkteɪtɚ/
A person who watches an event, especially a sport or show.
tycoon
C1
/taɪˈkuːn/
A wealthy and powerful business person.
recruitment
B2
/rɪˈkruːt.mənt /
The process of finding and hiring new people for jobs or for the armed forces.
contender
C1
/kənˈtɛn.dɚ/
Someone who has a real chance of winning a competition or prize.
anonymity
C2
/ˌænəˈnɪmɪti/
The state of being unknown by name; keeping your identity hidden.
healthcare
B2
/ˈhɛlθkɛɚ/
The services that keep people healthy and treat illness.
climber
B1
/ˈklaɪmɚ/
A person who climbs mountains or rocks, often as a sport.
excel
B2
/ɪkˈsɛl/
To be very good at something; to do something extremely well.
ethic
B2
/ˈɛθ.ɪk/
A set of beliefs about what is right and wrong that guides a person or group.
integration
C2
/ˌɪn.təˈɡɹeɪ.ʃən/
The process of becoming a full, accepted part of a community, especially for people from a different background.
injure
A2
/ˈɪn.d͡ʒɚ/
To hurt a person or animal physically.
Siamese
C2
/ˌsaɪəˈmiːz/
historical: relating to Siam, the former name of Thailand, or to its people, culture, or language
callous
C2
/ˈkæləs/
Cruel and uncaring about other people's feelings or suffering.
buffoon
C1
/bəˈfuːn/
A person who behaves in a ridiculous or foolish way.
humorous
B1
/ˈhjuːməɹəs/
Funny and amusing; making people laugh.
exorcist
C2
/ˈɛk.sɔɹˌsɪst/
A person who performs rituals to drive out evil spirits.
guitarist
B1
/ˌgɪˈtɑːrɪst/
A person who plays the guitar.
niche
C1
/niʃ/
A specialized area or position that suits a person or business well.
jeweler
B2
/ˈd͡ʒuːələ(ɹ)/
A person who makes, repairs, or sells jewelry.
respective
C1
/ɹɪˈspɛktɪv/
Belonging separately to each of the people or things mentioned.
aristocracy
B2
/ˌɛɹ.ɪˈstɑ.kɹə.si/
The highest social class, usually with inherited titles and wealth.
fiddler
C1
/ˈfɪdələ(ɹ)/
A person who plays the violin, especially folk or traditional music.
shopkeeper
B2
/ˈʃɒpkiːpɚ/
A person who owns or runs a small shop.
taxpayer
C1
/ˈtækˌspeɪɝ/
A person who pays taxes.
commemorate
B2
/kəˈmɛməˌɹeɪt/
To honor and remember an important person or event, often with a ceremony.
magnetism
C1
/ˈmægnəˌtɪzəm/
The physical force by which magnets attract or repel iron and other materials.
mobility
B2
/moʊˈbɪlɪti/
The ability to move or be moved freely.
posterity
C2
/pɑːˈstɛrəti/
All future generations of people.
spinster
C2
/ˈspɪnstɚ/
dated and often disparaging: an unmarried woman, especially one regarded as past the usual age for marriage
trustee
C1
/tɹʌsˈtiː/
A person who is legally responsible for managing property or money for someone else.
attribute
B2
/ˈæt.ɹɪˌbjut/
To say that something is caused by or belongs to a particular person or thing.
playwright
B2
/ˈpleɪˌɹaɪt/
A person who writes plays for the theatre.
dowager
C1
/ˈdaʊədʒɚ/
a widow who holds property, income, or a title derived from her late husband
sociable
B2
/ˈsoʊʃəbəl/
Friendly and enjoying the company of other people.
alcoholism
B2
/ˈælkə(ˌ)hɔˌlɪzəm/
A serious illness in which a person cannot control their drinking of alcohol.
adolescence
C1
/ˌædəˈlɛsəns/
the period of development between childhood and adulthood, beginning around puberty
enroll
B2
/ɛnˈɹoʊl/
To officially join a course, school, or organization.
spokesperson
B2
/ˈspoʊksˌpɝsən/
A person who speaks officially on behalf of a group, company, or organization.
rapport
C1
/ɹæˈpɔɹ/
A close, friendly relationship in which people understand each other and communicate well.
collaborator
C1
/kəˈlæbəɹeɪtɚ/
A person who works together with others on a shared task or goal.
anthropology
C1
/ˌænθɹəˈpɑləd͡ʒi/
The scientific study of human beings, their societies, cultures, and development.
participant
B1
/pɑːɹˈtɪsəpənt/
A person who takes part in something.
storyteller
B1
/ˈstɔriːˌtɛlɝ/
A person who tells stories to an audience.
bystander
C2
/ˈbaɪˌstænd.ə(ɹ)/
a person who is present at an event but does not take part
vocalist
B2
/ˈvoʊkəlɪst/
A singer, especially in a band or group.
physique
C1
/fəˈziːk/
The shape and form of a person's body, especially when muscular.
reportedly
C1
/rɪˈpɔrtədli/
According to what people say or to news reports, though not certainly true.
questionnaire
B1
/ˌkwɛs.t͡ʃəˈnɛɹ/
A printed list of questions used to collect information from people.
policewoman
A2
/pəˈliːˌswʊmən/
A female member of the police.
Peruvian
C2
/pəˈɹuː.vi.ən/
relating to Peru, its people, languages, culture, or geography
socialize
B2
/ˈsoʊʃəlaɪz/
To spend time with other people in a friendly, relaxed way.
citation
C1
/ˌsaɪˈteɪʃən/
A short note that credits the source of information or a quotation.
outreach
B2
/ˈaʊtˌriːtʃ/
organized efforts to contact and provide information or services to people who might otherwise lack access
nomad
B2
/ˈnoʊmæd/
A member of a group of people who move from place to place rather than living in one fixed home, often to find food or pasture for their animals.
golfer
B1
/ˈɡɒlfə(ɹ)/
A person who plays golf.
Mongolian
C2
/mɒŋˈɡoʊliən/
relating to Mongolia, its people, language, or culture
programmer
B2
/ˈpɹoʊɡɹæmɚ/
A person who writes computer programs.
mumble
B2
/ˈmʌmbəl/
To speak quietly and unclearly so people cannot understand you.
ideological
C1
/ˌaɪ.di.əˈlɑ.d͡ʒɪ.kəl/
Relating to a system of political, social, or economic ideas and beliefs.
mystique
C2
/mɪˈstiːk/
An air of mystery, fascination, or special importance surrounding a person or thing.
humanly
B2
/ˈhjuːmənli/
within the limits of human ability, effort, or endurance, especially in the phrase humanly possible
giveaway
B2
/ˈgɪvəˌweɪ/
Something given to people for free, often to promote a product.
organizer
B1
/ˈɔɹɡənaɪzɚ/
A person who plans and arranges an event or activity.
anthropologist
C1
/ˌæn.θɹoʊˈpɑl.ə.d͡ʒɪst/
A scientist who studies human societies, cultures, and origins.
deviant
C2
/ˈdiːviːənt/
Differing sharply from what is normal or socially accepted.
innate
B2
/ɪˈneɪt/
Existing in a person or animal from birth; natural rather than learned.
townspeople
B2
/ˈtaʊnzˌpiːpəl/
the people who live in a particular town
extremist
C1
/ɪkˈstɹiːmɪst/
A person who holds extreme political or religious views and may use extreme methods.
strapping
C1
/ˈstræpɪŋ/
(of a person) tall, strong, and healthy-looking.
sociology
B2
/ˌsoʊ.siˈɑː.lə.dʒi/
the systematic study of society, social institutions, relationships, groups, and patterns of human behaviour
cynic
C1
/ˈsɪnɪk/
A person who believes people are selfish and expects the worst of them.
stimulus
C1
/ˈstɪm.jə.ləs/
Something that encourages activity or growth, especially in the economy.
demographic
C1
/ˌdɛməˈgræfɪk/
Relating to the size and makeup of human populations
contagion
C2
/kənˈteɪd͡ʒən/
The spread of a disease from one person to another by close contact.
desertion
C1
/dɪˈzɝʃən/
The act of abandoning a person, duty, or cause that you should support.
notable
C1
/ˈnoʊɾəbl̩/
Important or interesting enough to be noticed; worth paying attention to.
Burmese
C2
/bɝːˈmiːz/
the principal language of Myanmar, belonging to the Sino-Tibetan language family
philanthropist
C2
/fəˈlænθrəpəst/
A person who gives money and help to good causes to improve people's lives.
artificially
B2
/ˌɑːrtəˈfɪʃəli/
In a way made by people rather than naturally.
dropout
B2
/ˈdrɑːˌpaʊt/
A person who leaves school or college before finishing their course.
unmanned
C1
/ʌnˈmænd/
Operated without a person on board or in control.
laborer
B2
/ˈleɪ.bɚ.ɹɚ/
A person who does hard physical work, especially work that needs strength rather than special skill.
mover
B2
/ˈmuːvə/
A person whose job is to help people carry their belongings to a new home.
constituency
C1
/kənˈstɪt͡ʃu.ənsi/
An area whose voters elect a representative to a parliament or assembly.