This week on The Missing Workbook
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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.
2191 words
spinster
C2
/ˈspɪnstɚ/
dated and often disparaging: an unmarried woman, especially one regarded as past the usual age for marriage
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quicksand
B2
/ˈkwɪkˌsænd/
loose, water-saturated sand that appears firm but gives way under weight and can trap people or objects
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longevity
C1
/lɑnˈdʒevəti/
a long life, or the length of time that a person or organism lives
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jailer
B2
/ˈd͡ʒeɪlə(ɹ)/
someone who guards prisoners
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trustee
C1
/tɹʌsˈtiː/
A person who is legally responsible for managing property or money for someone else.
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harlot
C2
/ˈhɑɹlət/
dated and offensive: a woman described as a prostitute or as sexually promiscuous
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playwright
B2
/ˈpleɪˌɹaɪt/
A person who writes plays for the theatre.
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voter
B2
/ˈvoʊtɚ/
A person who votes or has the right to vote in an election.
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presenter
B2
/pɹɪˈzɛntə(ɹ)/
A person who introduces and hosts a TV or radio programme.
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signorina
C2
/ˌsiːn.jəˈriː.nə/
an Italian title or form of address traditionally used for an unmarried woman or young woman
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show-off
B2
/ˈʃoʊˌɔf/
a person who deliberately displays their abilities or possessions to attract attention or admiration
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minx
C2
/mɪŋks/
A flirtatious, impudent, or pert young woman.
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shoemaker
C2
/ˈʃuˌmeɪkɚ/
a person who makes or repairs shoes
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charlatan
C2
/ˈʃɑːrlətən/
a person who falsely claims to have special knowledge or skill, usually in order to deceive others
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alchemist
C1
/ˈælkəmɪst/
a person who practices alchemy, historically seeking transformations such as turning base metals into gold
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line-up
C1
/ˈlaɪˌnəp/
The group of people or things chosen to take part in an event, team, or show.
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fixer
B1
/ˈfɪksɝ/
someone who intervenes with authorities for a person in trouble (usually using underhand or illegal methods for a fee)
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spokesperson
B2
/ˈspoʊksˌpɝsən/
A person who speaks officially on behalf of a group, company, or organization.
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wiz
B2
/wɪz/
a person who is exceptionally clever, gifted or skilled in a particular area.
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rapport
C1
/ɹæˈpɔɹ/
A close, friendly relationship in which people understand each other and communicate well.
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collaborator
C1
/kəˈlæbəɹeɪtɚ/
A person who works together with others on a shared task or goal.
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infidel
C2
/ˈɪnfədəl/
historical and often offensive: a person regarded as not accepting the religion considered true by the speaker
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anthropology
C1
/ˌænθɹəˈpɑləd͡ʒi/
The scientific study of human beings, their societies, cultures, and development.
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coachman
C2
/ˈkoʊt͡ʃmən/
A man who drives a horse-drawn coach, a male coach driver.
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knave
C2
/neɪv/
dated: a dishonest, deceitful, or unscrupulous man
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serenade
C2
/ˌsɛrəˈneɪd/
a song or musical performance given for someone, traditionally outdoors in the evening as an expression of love
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participant
B1
/pɑːɹˈtɪsəpənt/
A person who takes part in something.
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watchdog
C1
/ˈwɑːtʃdɔːɡ/
a person or organization that keeps watch over others or monitors an institution or industry to prevent danger, illegality, abuse, waste, or unfairness
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tot
C1
/tɑt/
informal: a very young child
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nationalist
B1
/ˈnæʃ.ə.nə.lɪst/
A person who strongly supports their own nation, often above others.
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storyteller
B1
/ˈstɔriːˌtɛlɝ/
A person who tells stories to an audience.
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bystander
C2
/ˈbaɪˌstænd.ə(ɹ)/
a person who is present at an event but does not take part
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workforce
B2
/ˈwɝk.foɹs/
All the people who work for a company or on a project.
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physique
C1
/fəˈziːk/
The shape and form of a person's body, especially when muscular.
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questionnaire
B1
/ˌkwɛs.t͡ʃəˈnɛɹ/
A printed list of questions used to collect information from people.
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layman
C2
/ˈleɪmən/
Someone who is not a professional in a given field.
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policewoman
A2
/pəˈliːˌswʊmən/
A female member of the police.
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hatter
B2
/ˈhætɚ/
a person who makes, sells, or repairs hats
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ninny
C2
/ˈnɪni/
A silly or foolish person.
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puma
C2
/puːmə/
A woman in her 20s or 30s who seeks relationships with younger men; a younger cougar.
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mobster
C2
/ˈmɑːb.stɚ/
a member of an organized criminal gang, especially the Mafia
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playmate
B2
/ˈpleɪˌmeɪt/
A companion, especially a child, that someone plays with.
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outreach
B2
/ˈaʊtˌriːtʃ/
organized efforts to contact and provide information or services to people who might otherwise lack access
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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.
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golfer
B1
/ˈɡɒlfə(ɹ)/
A person who plays golf.
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forger
C2
/ˈfɔrdʒɚ/
a person who fraudulently makes or alters documents, money, art, or other objects
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programmer
B2
/ˈpɹoʊɡɹæmɚ/
A person who writes computer programs.
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godsend
C1
/ˈɡɑdˌsɛnd/
a person or thing that arrives unexpectedly and provides urgently needed help or good fortune
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stowaway
C2
/ˈstoʊəˌweɪ/
a person who secretly hides aboard a ship, aircraft, train, or other vehicle in order to travel without permission or payment
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mystique
C2
/mɪˈstiːk/
An air of mystery, fascination, or special importance surrounding a person or thing.
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shareholder
C1
/ˈʃɛɹˌhoʊl.dɚ/
A person or organization that owns shares in a company.
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loon
C2
/ˈluːn/
A crazy or deranged person; a lunatic.
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wheelbarrow
B2
/ˈʍil.bæɹ.oʊ/
a small cart with one wheel at the front and two handles, pushed by a person to carry loads
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giveaway
B2
/ˈgɪvəˌweɪ/
Something given to people for free, often to promote a product.
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lumberjack
C2
/ˈlʌm.bɚ.d͡ʒæk/
a person whose work is to fell trees.
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businesswoman
A2
/ˈbɪznɪˌswʊmən/
A woman who works in business, especially as an owner or manager.
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organizer
B1
/ˈɔɹɡənaɪzɚ/
A person who plans and arranges an event or activity.
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ringleader
C2
/ˈɹɪŋˌliːdəɹ/
a person who leads (especially in illicit activities)
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anthropologist
C1
/ˌæn.θɹoʊˈpɑl.ə.d͡ʒɪst/
A scientist who studies human societies, cultures, and origins.
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fixation
B1
/fɪkˈseɪʃən/
an intense or obsessive preoccupation with a person, idea, or thing
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poacher
C2
/ˈpoʊ.t͡ʃɚ/
someone who hunts or fishes illegally on the property of another
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terrier
C1
/ˈtɛɹiə(ɹ)/
Someone displaying terrier-like qualities such as determined pursuit.
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townspeople
B2
/ˈtaʊnzˌpiːpəl/
the people who live in a particular town
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crucifixion
C2
/ˌkɹuː.səˈfɪk.ʃən/
execution by fastening a person to a cross or upright structure and leaving them to die
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escalator
A2
/ˈɛs.kə.leɪ.tɚ/
A moving staircase that carries people up or down between floors.
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extremist
C1
/ɪkˈstɹiːmɪst/
A person who holds extreme political or religious views and may use extreme methods.
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adulthood
A2
/əˈdʌltˌhʊd/
the period of life after a person has reached physical and legal maturity
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footballer
A2
/ˈfʊtbɔːləɹ/
A person who plays football, especially soccer.
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cynicism
C1
/ˈsɪnɪˌsɪzəm/
A distrustful attitude that assumes people act only out of selfishness.
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sociology
B2
/ˌsoʊ.siˈɑː.lə.dʒi/
the systematic study of society, social institutions, relationships, groups, and patterns of human behaviour
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cynic
C1
/ˈsɪnɪk/
A person who believes people are selfish and expects the worst of them.
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marksman
C1
/ˈmɑːrks.mən/
a person who is highly skilled at shooting accurately with a firearm, bow, or similar weapon
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lout
C2
/laʊt/
a rude, aggressive, or badly behaved man or boy
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simpleton
C2
/ˈsɪmpəltən/
a person lacking intelligence or common sense
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wer
C2
/wɜr/
historical: a man, or the monetary value assigned to a man's life under early Germanic law
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carpool
B2
/ˈkɑːpuːl/
An arrangement where several people travel together in one car to save money and reduce traffic.
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desertion
C1
/dɪˈzɝʃən/
The act of abandoning a person, duty, or cause that you should support.
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philanthropist
C2
/fəˈlænθrəpəst/
A person who gives money and help to good causes to improve people's lives.
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dropout
B2
/ˈdrɑːˌpaʊt/
A person who leaves school or college before finishing their course.
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barmaid
C2
/ˈbɑrˌmeɪd/
chiefly British: a woman who serves drinks in a bar or pub
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commendation
C1
/ˌkɑmənˈdeɪʃən/
Praise or formal approval given to someone.
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inquisitor
C2
/ɪnˈkwɪzɪtɚ/
a person who asks questions in a searching, persistent, or harsh manner
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mogul
B2
/ˈmoʊɡəl/
A very rich or powerful person, especially in business or media.
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squaw
C2
/skwɔ/
dated and offensive: a Native American woman or wife
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laborer
B2
/ˈleɪ.bɚ.ɹɚ/
A person who does hard physical work, especially work that needs strength rather than special skill.
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Anglo-Saxon
C2+
/ˌæŋ.ɡloʊˈsæk.sən/
a member of the Germanic-speaking peoples who settled in England from the fifth century and whose kingdoms preceded Norman rule
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ruffian
C2
/ˈɹʌfi.ən/
A scoundrel, rascal, or unprincipled, deceitful, brutal and unreliable person.
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hater
B1
/ˈheɪtɚ/
a person who strongly dislikes someone or something
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legislature
B2
/ˈlɛd͡ʒɪˌsleɪt͡ʃɚ/
The group of people with the power to make, change, and remove laws.
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humbug
B2
/ˈhəmˌbəɡ/
Dishonest talk or behaviour meant to trick people; nonsense.
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sportsman
C2
/ˈspɔrtsmən/
A man who engages in sports; an athlete.
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proletariat
B2
/ˌpɹoʊ.lɪˈtɛɚ.i.ət/
Wage earners collectively; people who own no capital and depend on their labour for survival; the working class, especially when seen as engaged in a class struggle with the bourgeoisie (“the capital-owning class”).
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recluse
C2
/ɹɪˈkluːs/
A person who chooses to live alone and avoid other people.
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screenwriter
C1
/ˈskriːnˌraɪtɝ/
A person who writes the scripts for films or television programmes.
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individuality
C1
/ˌɪndɪvɪd͡ʒuˈælɪti/
the qualities that make a person or thing different from everyone or everything else
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gook
B2
/ɡuːk/
An offensive slur for an Asian person.
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