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
748 words
police
A2
/pəˈliːs/
The official organization, and its members, whose job is to keep order, prevent crime, and make sure people obey the law.
death
A2
/dɛθ/
The end of life; the act or fact of dying.
break
A1
/bɹeɪk/
To separate something into pieces, or to make it stop working, often suddenly.
state
A2
/ˈsteɪt/
The condition that someone or something is in at a particular time.
law
A2
/laː/
An official rule that everyone in a country or community must obey.
court
A2
/ˈkɔɹt/
A place where legal cases are heard and judged.
government
A2
/ˈɡʌv.ɚ(n).mənt/
The group of people who officially control and run a country.
judge
B1
/d͡ʒʌd͡ʒ/
An official who controls a court of law and decides how criminals should be punished.
decision
A2
/dɪˈsɪʒn̩/
A choice you make after thinking about something.
duty
B1
/ˈdjuː.ti/
Something you have to do because it is right or because the law or your job requires it.
witness
B1
/ˈwɪt.nəs/
To see something happen, especially an event or a crime.
rule
A1
/ɹuːl/
An instruction that says what you are or are not allowed to do.
vote
B1
/voʊt/
To formally show which person or choice you support in an election or decision.
sheriff
B1
/ˈʃɛɹɪf/
The main law-enforcement officer of a county, often elected.
finding
B1
/ˈfaɪndɪŋ/
Something discovered as a result of research or investigation.
responsibility
B1
/ɹɪˌspɑn.səˈbɪl.ə.ti/
A duty or task that you are expected to deal with.
legal
B1
/ˈli.ɡəl/
Allowed or required by law.
secretary
A2
/ˈsɛk.(ɹ)əˌtɛɹ.i/
a person who handles letters, phone calls, and office tasks for someone or an organization
jury
B2
/ˈd͡ʒʊɹi/
A group of people chosen to listen to a court case and decide whether someone is guilty.
official
A2
/əˈfɪʃəl/
Approved by or coming from a person in authority.
license
A2
/ˈlaɪ.səns/
An official document that gives you permission to do or own something.
illegal
A2
/ɪˈli.ɡəl/
Not allowed by the law.
sue
B2
/sjuː/
To take legal action against someone in a court of law.
claim
A2
/kleɪm/
To say that something is true, often without proof.
sin
C1
/sɪn/
An act that breaks a religious or moral law.
authority
B1
/əˈθɔɹədi/
The power or right to give orders and make people obey.
lack
A2
/ˈlæk/
The state of not having something, or not having enough of it.
custody
C1
/ˈkʌstədiː/
The legal right and duty to care for someone, especially a child.
policy
B1
/ˈpɑ.lə.si/
An official plan or set of rules that a government, company, or person decides to follow.
accused
C1
/əˈkjuzd/
The person charged with a crime in a court of law.
bond
B1
/bɑnd/
To form a close emotional connection with someone.
inform
B1
/ɪnˈfɔɹm/
To tell someone about something officially or formally.
election
B1
/ɪˈlɛkʃn/
An event in which people vote to choose a leader or representative.
officially
B1
/əˈfɪʃ.(ə.)li/
In a way that is approved by an authority or follows the rules.
ward
B1
/wɔɹd/
A section of a hospital for patients who need similar care.
testify
B2
/ˈtɛstɪfaɪ/
To give evidence in a court of law, usually under oath.
obey
B2
/oʊˈbeɪ/
To do what a person, rule, or law tells you to do.
appeal
B1
/əˈpil/
The quality of being attractive or interesting.
testimony
B2
/ˈtɛstɪmoʊni/
A formal statement made by a witness in a court of law.
paperwork
B2
/ˈpeɪ.pɚˌwɝk/
The routine writing and handling of documents, forms, and reports.
require
B1
/ɹɪˈkwaɪɹ/
To need something.
permit
B1
/pɚˈmɪt/
To allow someone to do something.
guardian
B1
/ˈɡɑɹ.di.ən/
Someone who guards, watches over, or protects.
counsel
C2
/ˈkaʊn.səl/
Advice or guidance, especially when serious or careful.
oath
B2
/ˈoʊθ/
A serious, formal promise to do something or to tell the truth.
cabinet
B2
/ˈkæb.ɪ.nɪt/
A piece of furniture with shelves or drawers for storing or showing things.
formal
B1
/ˈfɔɹməl/
Following accepted rules of polite or official behaviour, dress, or language.
lobby
B2
/ˈlɑ.bi/
A large entrance area or waiting room inside a building.
legally
B1
/ˈliːɡəli/
In a way that is allowed by law.
eliminate
B1
/ɪˈlɪm.ɪ.neɪt/
To completely remove or get rid of something.
breach
C1
/bɹiːtʃ/
An act of breaking a law, rule, agreement, or promise.
lex
C2
/lɛks/
a law or statute, especially one expressed by its Latin title or discussed in Roman law
dynamite
C2
/ˈdaɪ.nəˌmaɪt/
blow up with dynamite
parliament
B2
/ˈpɑɹ.lə.mənt/
The group of elected people who make a country's laws.
plead
B2
/pliːd/
To ask for something in a very emotional and urgent way.
plea
C1
/pliː/
An urgent, emotional request for help.
voting
B2
/ˈvoʊtɪŋ/
The act or process of casting a vote in an election or decision.
submit
B2
/səbˈmɪt/
To give or send something to someone in authority for them to consider.
precinct
C2
/ˈpriː.sɪŋkt/
in the United States, a local administrative district used for elections or policing
congressman
C1
/ˈkɑːŋ.ɡrəs.mən/
a male member of a congress, especially a member of the United States House of Representatives
treason
C2
/ˈtɹiː.zən/
The crime of betraying one’s own country.
conviction
C1
/kənˈvɪk.ʃən/
A strong, firmly held belief or opinion.
enforcement
C1
/ɪnˈfoɹsm(ə)nt/
The act of making people obey a law, rule, or agreement.
constitution
B1
/ˌkɑn.stɪˈtu.ʃ(ə)n/
The set of basic laws and principles by which a country or organization is governed.
federation
B2
/ˌfed.əˈreɪ.ʃən/
a political union whose constituent states or regions retain some internal self-government
exhibit
B2
/ɪɡˈzɪbɪt/
To show something publicly, especially in a museum or gallery.
exposure
B2
/ɪkˈspoʊ.ʒɚ/
The state of being affected by something, such as a substance or influence.
lawsuit
B2
/ˈlɔˌs(j)ut/
A legal case that one person or group brings against another in a court of law.
sultan
C1
/ˈsʌltən/
a sovereign or ruler in certain Muslim countries, historically including the Ottoman Empire
lordship
C1
/ˈlɔɹd.ʃɪp/
The state or condition of being a lord.
recognition
B2
/ˌɹɛkəɡˈnɪʃ(ə)n/
The act of knowing someone or something because you have seen them before.
obligation
B2
/ˌɑ.blɪˈɡeɪ.ʃn̩/
Something you must do because of a law, promise, or moral duty.
rebellion
C1
/ɹɪˈbɛl.i.ən/
An organized, often armed, attempt to overthrow a government or ruler.
ruling
C1
/ˈɹuːlɪŋ/
An official decision made by a court or someone in authority.
irresponsible
B2
/ˌɪɹ.əˈspɑn.sə.bəl/
Not thinking about or caring about the results of your actions
magistrate
C1
/ˈmæd͡ʒ.ɪˌstɹeɪt/
An official who acts as a judge in a lower court, dealing with minor offences.
felony
C1
/ˈfɛləni/
A serious criminal offense, which, under United States federal law, is punishable by a term of imprisonment of not less than one year or by the death penalty in the most serious offenses.
freeman
B2
/ˈfɹiː.mən/
a person who is not a serf or a slave
petition
C1
/pəˈtɪʃ.ən/
A formal written request, usually signed by many people, asking an authority to do something.
chancellor
B2
/ˈt͡ʃænsələ/
A senior government official, often in charge of finance or law.
dismiss
B2
/dɪsˈmɪs/
To decide that something or someone is not worth considering or taking seriously.
jurisdiction
C1
/d͡ʒʊɹɪsˈdɪkʃən/
The official power to make legal decisions and apply the law.
contempt
B2
/kənˈtɛmpt/
A strong feeling that someone or something is worthless and deserves no respect.
ban
B1
/bæn/
To officially forbid something, especially by law or rule.
unity
B2
/ˈjunɪti/
The state of being joined together as one; agreement and harmony.
concussion
C2
/kənˈkʊʃən/
A violent collision or shock.
disturbance
B1
/dɪˈstɜɹ.bəns/
Something that interrupts a normal, peaceful, or regular situation.
amendment
C1
/əˈmɛndmənt/
A change or addition made to a law, document, or formal proposal.
illegally
B1
/ɪˈliːɡəli/
In a way that breaks the law.
courtyard
C1
/ˈkɔɹt.jɑɹd/
An area, open to the sky, partially or wholly surrounded by walls or buildings.
defy
B2
/dɪˈfaɪ/
To refuse to obey a person, rule, or law.
accusation
B2
/ək.jʊˈze.ʃən/
A statement that someone has done something wrong or illegal.
militia
C1
/məˈlɪʃə/
A group of ordinary citizens trained as soldiers to fight in an emergency, rather than professional troops.
valet
C2
/ˈvæleɪ/
a person that will park and fetch cars for people using a business, restaurant or service
condemn
B2
/kənˈdɛm/
to say strongly that something is wrong or that you disapprove of it
impose
B2
/ɪmˈpoʊz/
To officially force a rule, tax, or punishment on people.