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
128 words
president
B1
/ˈpɹez.ɪ.dənt/
The elected head of state in a republic, such as the United States.
national
A2
/ˈnæʃ.ə.nəl/
Relating to a whole nation or country.
minister
B2
/ˈmɪn.əˌstɚ/
A senior politician in charge of a government department.
foreign
A2
/ˈfɔɹɪn/
Coming from or belonging to a country that is not your own.
political
A2
/pəˈlɪt.ɪ.kəl/
Relating to government, the state, or the way a country is run.
nation
A2
/ˈneɪʃən/
A country considered as a political and independent state.
campaign
B1
/kæmˈpeɪn/
A planned series of actions to achieve a particular goal.
international
A2
/ˌɪn.(t)ɚˈnæʃ.(ə.)n(ə)l/
involving or relating to two or more countries.
politics
B1
/ˈpɑ.lɪ.tɪks/
The activities involved in governing a country or area, and the debate between groups who want power.
ambassador
B2
/æmˈbæs.ə.dɚ/
The most senior official who represents their country in a foreign country.
independent
B1
/ˌɪn.dɪˈpɛn.dənt/
Free from outside control; not ruled by another country or authority.
p.m.
A1
/ˌpiː ˈɛm/
In or relating to the time between noon and midnight.
primary
B1
/ˈpɹaɪˌmɛɹ.i/
Most important; main.
democracy
B1
/dɪˈmɑ.kɹə.si/
A system of government in which people choose their leaders by voting.
protocol
C1
/ˈpɹoʊtəˌkɑl/
A set of rules for how something should be done correctly.
politician
B1
/ˌpɑ.ləˈtɪʃ.ən/
A person who works in politics, especially one who has been elected to government.
treaty
B2
/ˈtɹiti/
A formal written agreement between two or more countries.
democratic
B1
/ˌdɛm.əˈkɹæt.ɪk/
Relating to democracy or a system where people choose their government by voting.
diplomatic
C1
/ˌdɪpləˈmætɪk/
Relating to the work of managing relations between countries.
conservative
B1
/kənˈsɝvətɪv/
Not liking change; preferring traditional ways of doing things.
politically
B2
/pəˈlɪtɪkəli/
In a way that relates to politics or government.
cleanse
C2
/klɛnz/
to purge of an ideology, bad thoughts, or sins
espionage
C1
/ˈɛs.pi.əˌnɑːʒ/
The act or process of learning secret information through clandestine means.
portfolio
C1
/pɔɹtˈfoʊ.liˌoʊ/
A collection of a person's work shown to potential employers or clients.
ideology
B2
/aɪ.diˈɑ.lə.d͡ʒi/
A set of beliefs and ideas, especially political, held by a person or group.
serenity
C2+
/səˈɹɛnɪti/
The state of being serene; calmness; peacefulness.
anarchist
C2
/ˈæn.ɚ.kɪst/
a person who advocates anarchism, seeking a society organized without a coercive state or imposed hierarchy
ultimatum
C1
/ˌʌltəˈmeɪtəm/
a final demand stating terms that must be accepted, often with a threat of consequences if they are refused
stasis
C2
/ˈsteɪsɪs/
Inactivity; a freezing, or state of motionlessness.
manifesto
C2
/ˌmæn.əˈfes.toʊ/
a public written declaration of the principles, policies, aims, or intentions of a political party, government, or movement
imperialism
C1
/ɪmˈpɪr.i.ə.lɪ.zəm/
the policy or practice of extending a state's power over other territories through conquest, colonization, or political and economic control
confederacy
B2
/kənˈfɛdəɹəsi/
an alliance or union of states, organizations, or groups formed for a common purpose
makeshift
C2
/ˈmeɪkˌʃɪft/
A temporary (usually insubstantial) substitution.
statesman
B2
/ˈsteɪtsmən/
A respected and experienced political leader.
overlord
C1
/ˈəʊvə(ɹ)lɔː(ɹ)d/
a person who has general authority over others
neutrality
B2
/nuˈtɹæləti/
the state of not supporting either side in a dispute or competition
imperialist
C2
/ɪmˈpɪriəlɪst/
a person who supports or practices imperialism
recant
C1
/ɹəˈkænt/
To withdraw or repudiate a statement or opinion formerly expressed, especially formally and publicly.
conclave
C2
/ˈkɑnˌkleɪv/
a private, confidential, or secret meeting of a select group
rile
C2
/ɹɑel/
To stir or move from a state of calm or order.
totalitarian
C2
/ˌtoʊtəlɪˈtɛɹiən/
characterized by a government in which the political authority exercises absolute and centralized control
colonize
B2
/ˈkɑː.lə.naɪz/
to settle people in a territory and establish political control over it, often displacing or subjugating its existing inhabitants
legate
C2
/ˈlɛɡɪt/
an official envoy or deputy, especially a representative sent by the pope or a sovereign
segue
C2
/ˈsɛɡweɪ/
To move smoothly from one state or subject to another.
agitator
C2
/ˈædʒ.əˌteɪ.tɚ/
a person who vigorously stirs others into political or social action, often a disapproving label for a protest organizer
empathetic
C2
/ˌɛmpəˈθɛtɪk/
showing empathy or ready comprehension of others' states
subversion
C2
/səbˈvɝːʒən/
the deliberate, often covert undermining of an established government, institution, or system
kingship
C1
/ˈkɪŋ.ʃɪp/
the office, rank, or institution of a king
despot
C1
/ˈdɛs.pət/
a ruler who holds absolute power and uses it in a cruel, oppressive, or arbitrary way
suffrage
C1
/ˈsʌf.rɪdʒ/
the legal right to vote in political elections
appeasement
C2
/əˈpiːzmənt/
the act of calming, satisfying, or pacifying someone by meeting a demand or easing a grievance
royalist
B2
/ˈrɔɪ.ə.lɪst/
a supporter of monarchy or of a particular monarch or royal dynasty
jingo
C2
/ˈdʒɪŋɡoʊ/
dated: used as a mild oath, usually in the phrase by jingo
dynastic
C2
/daɪˈnæstɪk/
relating to a dynasty or to rule by successive members of one family
triumvirate
C2
/traɪˈʌmvɝət/
a group of three people who share authority or responsibility
preamble
C2+
/ˈpriˌæmb(ə)l/
To speak or write a preamble; to provide a preliminary statement or set of remarks.
abdication
C2
/ˌæbdəˈkeɪʃən/
the formal act of giving up a throne or other position of sovereign power
Bolshevism
C2
/ˈbɑlʃəˌvɪzəm/
historical and political: the revolutionary Marxist doctrine and strategy of the Bolshevik faction led by Lenin
dethrone
C2
/diˈθroʊn/
to remove a monarch from the throne or from sovereign power
ratification
C1
/ˌrætɪfɪˈkeɪʃən/
the act of formally approving and making an agreement, treaty, or decision valid
apocryphal
C2
/əˈpɑːkɹɪfəl/
Of doubtful authenticity, or lacking authority; not regarded as canonical.
anarchism
C2
/ˈænəɹˌkɪzəm/
a family of political philosophies and movements skeptical of or opposed to coercive authority, especially the state, and favoring stateless social organization through voluntary cooperation
militarism
C2
/ˈmɪl.ə.tɚ.ɪ.zəm/
the belief or policy that a country should maintain powerful armed forces and use them to gain political or economic advantage
nationalization
C2
/ˌnæʃ.ən.əl.əˈzeɪ.ʃən/
the transfer of a privately owned industry, service, or asset into ownership or control by a national government
unseat
C1
/ˌʌnˈsit/
to remove someone from an elected office, position of power, or established role
demagogue
C2
/ˈdɛməɡɑɡ/
a political leader who seeks support by appealing to popular passions and prejudices
mendacity
C2
/mɛnˈdæsəti/
A deceit, falsehood, or lie.
restive
C2+
/ˈɹɛstɪv/
impatient especially under restriction or delay
entente
C1
/ɑnˈtɑnt/
an informal alliance or friendly understanding between states or political powers
leaderless
C2
/ˈliːdɚləs/
having no person or group in command or providing direction
plenipotentiary
C2
/plɛn.ɪ.poʊˈtɛn.ʃ(i)əɹ.i/
A person invested with full powers, especially as the diplomatic agent of a sovereign state, (originally) charged with handling a certain matter.
internationalism
C1
/ˌɪn.tɚˈnæʃ.ə.nəˌlɪz.əm/
the principle that nations should cooperate and pursue shared interests across national boundaries
statesmanship
C2
/ˈsteɪts.mən.ʃɪp/
skill, wisdom, and sound judgment in managing public affairs
opine
C2
/oʊˈpaɪn/
To express an opinion; to state as an opinion; to suppose, consider (that).
internationalist
C1
/ˌɪn.tɚˈnæʃ.ə.nə.lɪst/
a person who supports cooperation and solidarity among nations rather than narrow national self-interest
sagacious
C2+
/səˈɡeɪʃəs/
skillful in statecraft or management
statecraft
C2
/ˈsteɪt.kræft/
skill and sound judgment in governing a state and managing its affairs, especially diplomacy and foreign policy
puissant
C2
/ˈpjuəsənt/
Powerful, mighty, having authority.
factious
C2
/ˈfæk.ʃəs/
inclined to form factions or provoke internal disagreement
committeeman
C2
/kəˈmɪtimən/
dated: a man who serves on a committee
impolitic
C2
/ɪmˈpɑː.lə.tɪk/
unwise or tactless because likely to cause offense or practical difficulty
analytically
C2
/ˌæn.əˈlɪt.ɪ.kli/
by virtue of analysis
plutocracy
C2
/pluːˈtɑː.krə.si/
a system of government or social control in which the wealthiest people hold political power
protectionist
C1
/prəˈtek.ʃən.ɪst/
a person who supports tariffs, quotas, or other government barriers to imports in order to protect domestic producers
retrenchment
C1
/ɹəˈtɹɛnt͡ʃm(ə)nt/
A curtailment or reduction.
concordat
C2
/kənˈkɔrˌdæt/
a formal agreement between the Holy See and a sovereign state regulating church affairs
bashaw
C2
/bəˈʃɔ/
historical spelling of pasha: a man of high rank or authority in the Ottoman Empire
federate
C1
/ˈfed.ə.reɪt/
to unite states, organizations, or groups in a federation while allowing the members some independence
cosmopolitanism
C2
/ˌkɑzməˈpɑlɪtənɪzm̩/
the moral or political view that all human beings belong to a single community and have obligations to one another across national boundaries
truculence
C2
/ˈtrʌk.jə.ləns/
The state of being truculent; eagerness to fight; ferocity.
asiento
C2
/ˌɑː.siˈɛn.toʊ/
historical: a contract granted by the Spanish Crown that gave a person or company a monopoly over a branch of colonial trade, especially the supply of enslaved Africans to Spanish America
suzerainty
C2
/ˈsuː.zɚ.ɪn.ti/
a relationship in which a dominant state controls the external affairs of a subordinate but internally autonomous state
commonweal
C2
/ˈkɑmənˌwil/
the welfare, prosperity, or good shared by all members of a community
Marxian
C2
/ˈmɑːrk.si.ən/
relating to, developed from, or analytically influenced by Karl Marx's political, economic, and social theories, without necessarily implying adherence to Marxism
asperity
C2
/əˈspɛɹɪti/
something hard to endure
quiescence
C2
/kwiˈɛsəns/
a state of quiet, but possibly temporary, inaction