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
183 words
case
A2
/keɪs/
A particular situation or example of something happening.
murder
A2
/ˈmɝ.dɚ/
The crime of killing another person on purpose.
evidence
A2
/[ˈɛv.ɪ.ɾɪns]/
Facts or signs that show whether something is true or real.
crime
A2
/ˈkraɪm/
An act that breaks the law and can be punished.
prison
A2
/ˈpɹɪzn̩/
A building where criminals are kept locked up as punishment.
cop
C1
/kɑp/
A police officer.
jail
B1
/d͡ʒeɪl/
A place where people are locked up, especially while awaiting trial or for minor crimes.
victim
B1
/ˈvɪktɪm/
A person who is harmed, hurt, or killed by someone or something.
arrest
B1
/əˈɹɛst/
To take someone to a police station because they may have broken the law.
innocent
B1
/ˈɪnəsənt/
Not guilty of a crime or wrongdoing.
guilty
B1
/ˈɡɪl.ti/
Having done something wrong or broken the law.
steal
A2
/stiːl/
To take something that belongs to someone else without permission.
suspect
B1
/səˈspɛkt/
To think that something is probably true, often something bad.
justice
B1
/ˈd͡ʒɐs.tɪs/
Fair treatment of people, especially by the law.
trial
B2
/ˈtɹaɪəl/
A legal process in court where evidence is examined to decide if someone is guilty of a crime.
pardon
A1
/ˈpɑɹdn̩/
Forgiveness for something wrong that someone has done.
investigation
B1
/ɪnˌvɛs.tɪˈɡeɪ.ʃən/
The careful examination of something in order to find out the facts.
criminal
B1
/ˈkɹɪm.ə.nəl/
A person who has broken the law.
rape
B2
/ˈɹæɪ̯p/
To force someone to have sex against their will.
punishment
B1
/ˈpʌnɪʃmənt/
Something unpleasant done to someone because they have done something wrong.
assault
B2
/əˈsɔlt/
To attack someone violently.
confession
B2
/kənˈfɛʃən/
A statement admitting that you have done something wrong.
defendant
B2
/dɪˈfɛndənt/
a person or organization accused of a crime in a court case
fraud
B2
/fɹɔd/
The crime of deceiving people to gain money or an unfair advantage.
prosecutor
C1
/ˈpɹɑ.səˌkjuːˌtəɹ/
A lawyer who argues in court that an accused person is guilty of a crime.
conspiracy
B2
/kənˈspəɹəsi/
A secret plan by a group of people to do something harmful or illegal.
theft
B1
/ˈθɛft/
The crime of stealing something.
blackmail
C2
/ˈblæk.meɪl/
the crime or practice of demanding money or compliance by threatening to reveal a secret or damaging information
prosecution
C1
/ˌpɹɑ.sɪˈkju.ʃən/
The process of charging and trying someone for a crime in court.
assassin
C1
/əˈsæs.ən/
a person who deliberately murders someone, especially a prominent person in a planned surprise attack
accuse
B1
/əˈkjuz/
To say that someone has done something wrong or illegal.
forensic
C1
/fəˈɹɛn.zɪk/
Relating to the use of science to investigate crimes and provide evidence in court.
probation
B2
/proʊˈbeɪ.ʃən/
a court-ordered period in which an offender remains in the community under stated conditions instead of, or after, imprisonment
convict
C1
/kənˈvɪkt/
To officially decide in a court of law that someone is guilty of a crime.
culprit
B2
/ˈkʌl.prɪt/
a person responsible for a crime, wrongdoing, or problem
solitary
C2
/ˈsɑlɪˌtɛɹi/
Alone; done or existing without others.
thug
C2
/θʌɡ/
a violent criminal or a person hired to intimidate or attack others
burglary
B2
/ˈbɝ.ɡlɚ.i/
The crime of breaking into a building in order to steal.
inmate
C1
/ˈɪnˌmeɪt/
A person kept in a prison or jail.
abduction
C2
/æbˈdʌk.ʃn̩/
the act of taking a person away unlawfully by force or deception
eyewitness
B2
/ˈaɪˌwɪt.nəs/
a person who personally sees an event and can describe or testify about it
arson
C2
/ˈɑɹsən/
malicious burning to destroy property
lynch
C2
/lɪnt͡ʃ/
to kill someone without legal authority or a trial, especially by a mob and often by hanging
imprisonment
B2
/ˌɪmˈprɪzənmənt/
The punishment of being kept in prison.
posse
C2
/ˈpɑːsi/
a group of people summoned by a law officer to help keep order or pursue a suspect
smuggle
C2
/ˈsmʌɡəl/
to move goods or people secretly and illegally across a border or through controls
perpetrator
C2
/ˈpɝpəˌtɹeɪtɚ/
a person who commits a crime, harmful act, or other wrongdoing
gunman
C2
/ˈɡʌnmən/
a criminal armed with a gun, especially a professional killer.
penitentiary
C2
/ˌpɛnɪˈtɛnʃəɹi/
used for punishment or reform of criminals or wrongdoers
assailant
C2
/əˈseɪlənt/
a person who physically attacks another person
felon
C2
/ˈfɛl.ən/
a person who has committed or been convicted of a felony, especially in United States law
detection
C1
/dɪˈtek.ʃən/
The act of noticing or discovering that something exists or has happened.
smuggler
C2
/ˈsmʌɡlɚ/
a person who secretly and illegally carries goods or people into or out of a country or restricted area
guillotine
C2
/ˈɡɪl.ə.tiːn/
a machine for executing a person by dropping a heavy blade through the neck
vendetta
C1
/vɛnˈdɛt.ə/
a prolonged and often violent feud in which a family, clan, or group seeks revenge for previous injuries or killings
dismissal
C1
/dɪˈsmɪsəl/
The act of removing someone from their job.
vandalism
B2
/ˈvændəˌlɪzəm/
deliberate or reckless damage to public or private property
apprehend
C2
/ˌæpɹɪˈhend/
To catch and arrest someone, especially a criminal.
handcuff
C1
/ˈhænd.kʌf/
a locking metal or plastic restraint placed around a wrist, usually used as one of a joined pair
avenger
C2
/əˈvɛndʒɚ/
a person who punishes someone in return for a wrong or injury
hangman
C1
/ˈhæŋˌmæn/
an executioner whose duty is to put condemned people to death by hanging
misdemeanor
C2
/ˌmɪsdəˈmiːnɝ/
A minor crime that is punished less severely than a serious one.
implicate
C1
/ˈɪmplɪkeɪt/
To show that someone is involved in something wrong, especially a crime.
incriminate
C2
/ɪnˈkrɪm.ə.neɪt/
to provide evidence or information suggesting that someone is guilty of a crime or wrongdoing
swindler
C2
/ˈswɪndəlɚ/
a person who obtains money or property from others through deception or fraud
embezzlement
C2
/ɪmˈbɛzəlmənt/
the fraudulent theft or misappropriation of money or property entrusted to one's care
swag
C2
/swæɡ/
informal: money or goods obtained by theft or other illegal activity
pickpocket
C2
/ˈpɪkˌpɑːkət/
a thief who secretly steals from people's pockets or bags in public places
hooligan
C2
/ˈhuː.lɪ.ɡən/
a violent or destructive troublemaker, especially one acting as part of a group
fixer
B1
/ˈfɪksɝ/
someone who intervenes with authorities for a person in trouble (usually using underhand or illegal methods for a fee)
frisk
C1
/frɪsk/
to search a person's clothing and body for concealed weapons, drugs, or other objects
piracy
B2
/ˈpaɪɹəsi/
The illegal copying or selling of films, music, software, or other protected work.
mobster
C2
/ˈmɑːb.stɚ/
a member of an organized criminal gang, especially the Mafia
forger
C2
/ˈfɔrdʒɚ/
a person who fraudulently makes or alters documents, money, art, or other objects
ringleader
C2
/ˈɹɪŋˌliːdəɹ/
a person who leads (especially in illicit activities)
poacher
C2
/ˈpoʊ.t͡ʃɚ/
someone who hunts or fishes illegally on the property of another
complicity
C1
/kəmˈplɪsəti/
involvement with others in a crime, wrongdoing, or harmful act
behead
C2
/bɪˈhɛd/
to cut off a person's or animal's head, especially as a form of execution
molest
C1
/məˈlest/
sensitive: to touch or assault someone sexually without consent, especially a child
fatality
C1
/feɪˈtælɪti/
A death caused by an accident, disaster, or violence.
punitive
C2
/ˈpju.nɪ.tɪv/
Intended as punishment.
exonerate
C1
/ɪɡˈzɑnəˌreɪt/
to officially clear someone from blame, an accusation, or criminal responsibility
abductor
C2
/æbˈdʌktɚ/
a person who unlawfully carries someone away and holds them captive
marauder
C2
/məˈrɔː.dɚ/
a person or member of a group that roams about to raid, steal, or attack
ferocity
C2
/fəˈɹɑsɪti/
Extreme fierceness or violence.
torturer
C1
/ˈtɔrtʃərɚ/
a person who deliberately inflicts severe physical or mental pain, often to punish, intimidate, or obtain information
thievery
C1
/ˈθiː.vɚ.i/
the crime or practice of stealing things
corroboration
C2
/kəˌɹɑbəˈɹeɪʃən/
the act of confirming a statement or theory with independent evidence
premeditation
C1
/ˌpriːˌmɛdəˈteɪʃən/
thought, planning, or deliberation before an action is carried out
highwayman
C2
/ˈhaɪ.weɪ.mən/
historical: an armed robber, typically on horseback, who stopped and robbed travelers on public roads
bloodstain
B2
/ˈblʌdˌsteɪn/
a mark or discolored area left by blood on a surface or material
shackle
C2
/ˈʃæk.əl/
a metal restraint for a wrist or ankle, usually one of a connected pair; figuratively, anything that severely restricts freedom
conspirator
C1
/kənˈspɪrətɚ/
a person who joins others in a secret plan, especially one that is unlawful or harmful
inference
B2
/ˈɪn.fɚ.əns/
A conclusion you reach based on evidence or reasoning rather than direct information.
captor
C1
/ˈkæptɚ/
a person or group that captures and holds a person, animal, or place
defraud
B2
/dɪˈfrɔːd/
to obtain money, property, or a legal right from someone by deception