One-Word Substitution
What is One-Word Substitution?
One-word substitution means replacing a group of words, a phrase, or a complete description with one suitable word without changing its meaning.
In simple terms, instead of using many words to express an idea, we use one exact word that conveys the same meaning.
Example:
- A person who cannot read or write → Illiterate
- A person who loves books → Bibliophile
- A person who speaks many languages → Polyglot
- A person who does not believe in God → Atheist
- A place where birds are kept → Aviary
- A life story written by oneself → Autobiography
Thus, one-word substitution makes our language shorter, clearer and more precise.
Why Do We Use One-Word Substitution?
Suppose we write: He is a person who always looks at the bright side of things.
The same idea can be expressed more simply: He is an optimist.
Here, the long expression “a person who always looks at the bright side of things” has been replaced by the single word “optimist.”
Learning such words helps to:
- Improve vocabulary
- Make sentences short and effective
- Express ideas more precisely
- Improve writing and communication skills
- Solve vocabulary questions in competitive examinations
How Does It Work?
The easiest way to understand one-word substitution is:
Long Description → Identify the Main Idea → Find One Exact Word
For example:
One who loves mankind
↓
Main idea: Love for humanity
↓
Philanthropist
Similarly:
One who hates mankind
↓
Main idea: Hatred towards humanity
↓
Misanthrope
How Questions Are Asked in Examinations
One-word substitution questions are generally asked in two common ways.
Type 1 – A phrase or description is given and you have to select the correct word.
Example:
A person who knows many languages is called:
(a) Linguist
(b) Polyglot
(c) Orator
(d) Novice
Answer: Polyglot
Type 2 – A sentence is given and you have to replace a group of words with one appropriate word.
Example:
Rohan is a person who collects postage stamps.
The phrase “a person who collects postage stamps” can be replaced by:
Philatelist
So the sentence becomes: Rohan is a philatelist.
Easy Rule to Remember
Think of One-Word Substitution as: MANY WORDS → SAME MEANING → ONE WORD
The aim is not simply to shorten a sentence. The chosen word must accurately convey the meaning of the entire phrase or description.
Important Phrases and Expressions
| Phrase / Description | One-Word Substitution |
|---|---|
| Study of fossils | Palaeontology |
| A person who admires art without having deep knowledge of it | Dilettante |
| A strong desire for food or wealth | Greed |
| Science dealing with heredity | Genetics |
| A medicine used to counteract the effect of poison | Antidote |
| A traditional story associated with gods or supernatural beings | Myth |
| Something that cannot be satisfied | Insatiable |
| Science of healthy living | Hygiene |
| A small shop selling fashionable clothes, cosmetics, etc. | Boutique |
| A serious crime such as murder or arson | Felony |
| The study of population | Demography |
| A statement that is obviously true | Platitude |
| A short journey made for pleasure | Excursion |
| A person trained to jump from an aircraft using a parachute | Paratrooper |
| The study of the functions of the body | Physiology |
| Something that cannot be calculated | Incalculable |
| A short expression of a general truth | Proverb / Maxim / Adage / Dictum |
| The science of crimes and criminals | Criminology |
| A person having qualities traditionally associated with women | Effeminate |
| A system or movement aimed at bringing improvement or reform | Reformism |
| A secret place that is difficult to access | Recess |
| The science of writing and compiling a dictionary | Lexicography |
| Something that can be easily bent without breaking | Flexible |
| A talk or action that damages someone’s reputation | Scandal |
| The science of the causes of diseases | Aetiology / Etiology |
| A word-for-word reproduction | Verbatim |
| Government by officials | Bureaucracy |
| The science of climate | Climatology |
| A person who foretells future events | Harbinger |
| A short summary of a book, speech or written work | Epitome |
| The science and art of preparing good food | Gastronomy |
| Something that cannot be perceived by touch | Intangible |
| A strong dislike between two persons | Antipathy |
| An official restriction requiring people to remain indoors during specified hours | Curfew |
| Study of coins | Numismatics |
| A person who is unable to pay his or her debts | Insolvent |
| A place or temple dedicated to all gods | Pantheon |
| A person who specialises in mental or emotional disorders | Psychiatrist |
| The science of the races of mankind and their relationships | Ethnology |
| A person who speaks in a very low voice | Whisper |
| The study of ancient things and remains | Archaeology |
| An expression of deep sorrow for wrongdoing | Contrite |
| A group of many islands | Archipelago |
| The science of blood | Haematology |
| An office involving little or no work but providing a high salary | Sinecure |
| Something that cannot be erased or removed | Indelible |
| A person or thing that is pig-like | Porcine |
| To send back a criminal into custody for further investigation | Remand |
| The study of oceans and their phenomena | Oceanography |
| A secret agreement made for a fraudulent or unlawful purpose | Collusion |
| The science of birds | Ornithology |
| A thing that is hidden | Mystery |
| Something that cannot be moved | Immobile |
| The scientific study of lakes and their physical phenomena | Limnology |
| A person or thing that is dog-like | Canine |
| A science concerned with the proper use and meaning of terms | Terminology |
| A ritual washing of the body | Ablution |
| Something that cannot be corrupted | Incorruptible |
| A school for very young children | Kindergarten |
| A person or thing that is fox-like | Vulpine |
| The science of inscriptions | Epigraphy |
| To predict something that is likely to happen in advance | Forecast / Foretell / Predict |
| An act of rising against an established government | Insurrection / Rebellion |
| A short amusing story about a real person or event | Anecdote |
| Science and technology concerned with metals | Metallurgy |
| A right or advantage available to a particular person or group | Privilege |
| A thing to be corrected in a printed book | Corrigendum |
| Science and philosophy dealing with human law | Jurisprudence |
| A thing that can be rooted out completely | Eradicable |
| A person who wishes to do good to others | Benevolent |
| Science dealing with the physical structure of the body | Anatomy |
| Something that is obviously believable | Credible |
| The scientific study of human beauty | Kalology |
| To say something aloud from memory | Recite |
| The science of mechanical and industrial arts | Technology |
| A room or place for washing kitchen utensils | Scullery |
| An expression showing contemptuous superiority | Supercilious |
| The scientific study of insects | Entomology |
| The science and art of flying aircraft | Aviation |
| A person who is shamelessly rude or disrespectful | Impudent |
| A stream or river that flows into a larger river | Tributary |
| The scientific study of mankind as an animal and human being | Anthropology |
| The state of being unable to sleep | Insomnia |
| Something that cannot be extinguished | Inextinguishable |
| The science of fixing or arranging dates of historical events | Chronology |
| Something so deep that its bottom cannot be reached | Unfathomable |
| A way out for water, steam or another substance | Outlet |
| A person who steals or copies the writings or ideas of others | Plagiarist |
| A short, clever and amusing expression | Epigram |
| The study of law | Nomology |
| A thing that exists separately from another | Independent |
| Rules governing formal and polite behaviour | Etiquette |
| Something that is hollow inside | Leonnine |
| A person or thing that is lion-like | Leonine |
| The usual behaviour or practice of a social group | Custom |
| The study of the constitution or structure of the whole universe | Cosmography |
| Soldiers operating large guns mounted on wheels | Artillery |
| To touch or stroke someone lovingly | Fondle / Caress |
| A thing taken away by robbers | Booty |
| Something that spreads through infection | Infectious |
| The science of weight and measurement | Metrology |
| The science or study of time | Horology |
| The science of physical structure and form of the body | Anatomy |
| A person showing or feeling contemptuous indifference | Supercilious |
| A roof supported by columns at the entrance of a building | Portico |
| The science of human beings in relation to their environment | Ecology |
| A lake of salt water separated from the sea by a sandbank | Lagoon |
| Something that can be believed | Credible |
| A religious discourse or speech | Sermon |
| A person who escapes from harsh or unpleasant realities | Escapist |
| The science dealing with climate | Climatology |
| An act of returning to one’s own country | Repatriation |
| To return the same kind of treatment received from another | Retaliate |
| A reduction in a tax, debt or payment | Rebate |
| A person who is reserved or unwilling to speak freely | Reticent |
| A person legally responsible for something | Liable |
| To restore someone or something to a former condition or position | Rehabilitate |
| Something likely to cause death or disaster | Fatal |
| A way of viewing the relationship between different aspects of something | Perspective |
| The reasoning or thinking power of the mind | Intellect |
| Something capable of being rooted out or destroyed completely | Eradicable |
| The study of the development of plants and animals from earlier forms | Genealogy |
| A feeling or expression of scorn and contempt | Opprobrium |
| Phrase / Description | One-Word Substitution |
|---|---|
| Government by a king or queen | Monarchy |
| A person who is quick to judge and understand | Perspicacious |
| Fear of foreigners or strangers | Xenophobia |
| A person who loves dogs | Canophilist |
| A building where military weapons are made or stored | Arsenal |
| A person who can neither read nor write | Illiterate |
| The practice of receiving and entertaining guests warmly | Hospitality |
| Government by elected representatives | Democracy |
| Something that has existed since ancient times | Antique |
| A person who hates books | Misobiblist |
| A gift of money given to a retiring employee | Gratuity |
| To put something below the surface of water | Submerge |
| A child having exceptional or remarkable talent | Prodigy |
| Government by a few powerful people | Oligarchy |
| The art or science of making maps | Cartography |
| A person who attacks another | Assailant / Assaulter |
| The habit of independent thought and action | Individualism |
| An artificial home for honeybees | Hive |
| A person who hates marriage | Misogamist |
| To postpone something to a later time | Procrastinate / Postpone |
| A person who studies or analyses handwriting | Graphologist |
| A formal announcement issued to the press | Communiqué |
| Fear of heights | Acrophobia |
| A person who strongly believes in fate | Fatalist |
| A person who is guided by a sense of duty | Conscientious |
| Government according to divine or religious laws | Theocracy |
| A person who believes that nothing definite can be known about God | Agnostic |
| The process of decorating cloth with sewn designs | Embroidery |
| A gathering or collection of different things | Omnibus |
| A person who cannot be corrected or reformed | Incorrigible |
| A strong gust of wind | Draught |
| A person or thing that can survive without outside assistance | Viable |
| A caretaker of a public building | Custodian |
| A gift or offering made to God | Oblation |
| The habit of pretending to possess virtues or beliefs one does not actually have | Hypocrisy |
| A formal agreement or approval of a proposal | Assent |
| A place with a favourable climate for invalids or patients | Asylum |
| Property received from one’s father or ancestors | Patrimony |
| Government by one person with absolute authority | Autocracy |
| An official counting of a country’s population | Census |
| A group of talkative girls or women | Gaggle |
| Government by a dictator | Dictatorship |
| Something capable of being perceived by the senses | Perceptible |
| A formal ceremony of crowning a king or queen | Coronation |
| A person who hates learning or knowledge | Misologist |
| Government by the rich and powerful | Plutocracy |
| A person who produces a large quantity of books, writings or other work | Prolific |
| To give someone the legal right to vote | Enfranchise |
| A future generation or descendants | Posterity |
| A government without a monarch but with elected representatives | Republic |
| An official order or general instruction | Directive |
| Freedom from punishment or harmful consequences | Impunity |
| A warning given before an approaching danger | Premonition |
| A fixed amount of money paid regularly to someone for life | Annuity |
| A sudden fit of anger or bad temper | Tantrum |
| Fear of oneself | Autophobia |
| Fear of one’s home or home surroundings | Ecophobia |
| Fear of dead bodies | Necrophobia |
| Fear of animals | Zoophobia |
| A person who supports another faithfully, especially a powerful person | Henchman |
| Failure to pay a debt on time | Default |
| An expert in horse riding | Cavalier |
| Something that has existed for an extremely long time | Eternal |
| Money paid to secure the release of a prisoner or captive | Ransom |
| Recreation or amusement after hard work | Recreation |
| Animals having four feet | Quadrupeds |
| A drink other than water | Beverage |
| The cultivation of fruits, vegetables, flowers and ornamental plants | Horticulture |
| The art of making fireworks | Pyrotechnics |
| An elegant and effective style of speaking | Elocution |
| A gathering of people for religious worship | Congregation |
| Explanatory remarks placed at the beginning of a book | Preface |
| Distinguishing signs or symbols of an office or rank | Insignia |
| A small bed for a newborn baby | Cradle / Crib |
| A belief not based on reason or scientific knowledge | Superstition |
| A bird that moves from one region to another according to season | Migratory |
| A blessing given by a priest | Benediction |
| A board of directors in a company or organisation | Directorate |
| A body of representatives or delegates | Delegacy / Delegation |
| A sacred or religious book | Scripture |
| Books, pictures or material intended to arouse sexual desire | Erotica |
| To bring someone or something back to life | Revive |
| To bring someone or something under control by force | Capture |
| To bring a country or people under control in war | Subjugate |
| A building used for displaying works of art | Gallery |
| Something that can be expressed in words | Expressible |
| To bring something back to one’s memory | Recall |
| Something that can be reached or approached | Accessible |
| A centre or point of attraction | Cynosure |
| A building equipped with a powerful telescope for astronomical observation | Observatory |
| A short account or condensed version of a subject | Summary / Compendium |
| To break a law, agreement or promise | Violate |
| A person who believes in the superiority of intellect or intellectuals | Intellectualist |
| Government by intellectuals or the highly educated | Meritocracy |
| Government by officials | Bureaucracy |
| A system of government by persons of the highest social class | Aristocracy |
| An imaginary disease or excessive anxiety about one’s health | Hypochondria |
| A word or expression having more than one possible meaning | Ambiguous / Equivocal |
| A person who becomes angry at injustice | Indignant |
| A person eager to help or concerned about helping others | Solicitous |
| A person or thing attached to what is natural | Naturalism |
| An approximate calculation of quantity, value or amount | Estimate |
| Any grain commonly used as food | Cereal |
| A change from the usual or intended direction | Diversion |
| A change into something abnormal or undesirable | Perversion |
| A chain or decorative arrangement of flowers, leaves or ribbons | Festoon |
| A person’s usual pattern of behaviour or character | Ethos |
| The creation or use of new words and expressions | Neologism |
| A person who believes that God’s existence cannot be proved or disproved | Agnostic |
| To destroy something completely | Annihilate |
| Something open to more than one interpretation | Ambiguous |
| An organism capable of living both on land and in water | Amphibious |
| A state of mutual hostility or opposition | Antagonistic |
| A neutral person chosen to settle a dispute | Arbiter |
| A narrative in which characters and events represent a deeper moral or political meaning | Allegory |
| A substance produced in the blood to fight harmful foreign substances | Antibody |
| The science and practice of beekeeping | Apiculture |
| The reappearance of ancestral characteristics after several generations | Atavism |
| To reduce or lessen pain, suffering or severity | Alleviate |
| A positive or emphatic statement made in response to an accusation | Allegation |
| A public festival involving colourful processions and entertainment | Carnival |
| A large, elaborate and expensive public celebration | Extravaganza |
| Property or money left to someone through a will | Legacy |
| A design or pattern raised above the surface of a material | Emboss |
| To pull or twist something out of its normal shape | Distort |
| To put information into a systematic code or form | Codify |
| A question, puzzle or problem that is difficult to understand or answer | Enigma / Riddle / Puzzle |
| An official governing body of a university | Senate |
| Phrase / Description | One-Word Substitution |
|---|---|
| A person who loves books greatly | Bibliophile |
| A person who cannot easily be pleased | Fastidious |
| A person who works for the welfare of women | Feminist |
| A person who commits the crime of setting property on fire | Arsonist |
| A person who pretends to possess virtues or qualities that he does not actually have | Hypocrite |
| A person who is recovering from an illness | Convalescent |
| The act of killing a human being | Homicide |
| A person who lives alone for religious reasons | Hermit |
| The quality of dealing deceitfully or dishonestly | Duplicity |
| A person who is unable to perform his duties or commitments properly | Delinquent |
| A sweet dish usually eaten after the main course | Dessert |
| A person with only a superficial interest in art or literature | Dilettante |
| The condition of having no material possessions or resources | Destitution |
| A political leader who gains support by appealing to popular emotions and prejudices | Demagogue |
| An inability to control the desire for alcoholic drinks | Dipsomania |
| Something regularly found among a particular people, community or region | Endemic |
| A person devoted to refined pleasures and sensual enjoyment | Epicure |
| To remove or destroy something completely | Eradicate |
| A retired professor who is allowed to retain an honorary title | Emeritus |
| An unusual or unconventional pattern of behaviour | Eccentricity |
| A person who tries to escape from unpleasant realities | Escapist |
| To make a process or task happen more quickly | Expedite |
| To free someone from legal, social or political restrictions | Emancipate |
| A short, clever and memorable saying | Epigram |
| The use of a mild or indirect expression instead of a harsh one | Euphemism |
| Something that includes everything | Exhaustive |
| Lacking refinement and behaving awkwardly | Erratic |
| Something irrelevant or unrelated to the main issue | Evasion |
| A state of mental exhaustion caused by continuous work | Ennui |
| To make amends for one’s wrongdoing or sins | Expiate |
| Words written or engraved on a tomb | Epitaph |
| A person legally authorised to carry out the instructions of a will | Executor |
| A person who is likely to make mistakes | Fallible |
| The animals naturally found in a particular region or period | Fauna |
| A man having narrow and prejudiced religious views | Fanatic |
| Something artificial that is made to appear real | Factitious |
| Something imagined rather than existing in reality | Fictitious |
| A very showy, colourful or extravagant style | Flamboyant |
| A tendency of plants or organisms to grow downwards | Geotropism |
| The deliberate killing of members of a particular national, ethnic or social group | Genocide |
| A person with expert knowledge of food and fine dining | Gourmet |
| Qualities or characteristics inherited from one’s parents | Hereditary |
| A voluntary payment given for professional services | Honorarium |
| A person who rejects established religious beliefs | Heretic |
| A person whose religious beliefs differ from accepted or orthodox beliefs | Heterodox |
| A person devoted to the welfare and happiness of humanity | Humanitarian |
| An act or expression showing great respect or honour | Homage |
| Deliberate exaggeration used for emphasis in speech or writing | Hyperbole |
| Something that cannot be broken through or overcome | Impregnable |
| Something that can be easily understood | Intelligible |
| Something expected to happen very soon | Imminent |
| A person who cannot easily be calmed or satisfied | Implacable |
| Something that cannot be put into practice | Impracticable |
| A person who cannot be corrected or reformed | Incorrigible |
| To formally accuse someone of committing a crime | Indict |
| Something that cannot easily be copied or imitated | Inimitable |
| Someone or something that cannot be defeated | Invincible |
| A distinctive personal manner or characteristic | Idiosyncrasy |
| A person who becomes angry or annoyed very easily | Irritable |
| A disease or condition characterised by inability to sleep | Insomnia |
| A country or group of people openly rebelling against authority | Insurgent |
| A person who refuses to compromise, especially in politics | Intransigent |
| The act of attributing a quality, action or motive to someone or something | Imputation |
| A decision that cannot be changed or reversed | Irrevocable |
| Produced within one’s own country without foreign assistance | Indigenous |
| A misleading or deceptive appearance, idea or belief | Illusion |
| The use of words or gestures to frighten or threaten someone | Intimidation |
| The act of encouraging someone to take a particular action | Instigation |
| Something that motivates or encourages a person to act | Incentive |
| An indirect or suggestive remark, usually with a negative implication | Innuendo |
| Something too beautiful or impressive to be adequately expressed in words | Ineffable |
| A person who has no money | Impecunious |
| A situation in which events have an unexpected or opposite result | Irony |
| A person who is highly knowledgeable about law | Jurist |
| An uncontrollable desire to steal | Kleptomania |
| Practical or technical knowledge of how to perform a particular task | Know-how |
| Excessively indulgent or lacking moral restraint | Licentious |
| A person who hates humanity | Misanthrope |
| A person who hates or strongly dislikes women | Misogynist |
| A person married to only one person at a time | Monogamist |
| Relating to ordinary worldly life rather than spiritual matters | Mundane |
| The use of a word or phrase for something to which it is not literally applicable | Metaphor |
| Something horrifying, gruesome or associated with death | Macabre |
| A person who helps settle a dispute between opposing parties | Mediator |
| A change or alteration that creates a new form or characteristic | Mutation |
| A dramatic work strongly appealing to emotions, often with exaggerated situations | Melodrama |
| Regard for the welfare of others as a guiding principle | Altruism |
| Unusual sensitivity or reaction to a particular substance | Allergy |
| To improve something or make an unpleasant condition better | Ameliorate |
| The representation of God or non-human beings in human form | Anthropomorphism |
| A temporary stopping of armed conflict by mutual agreement | Armistice |
| Something placed in the wrong historical period | Anachronism |
| A skilled worker who makes things by hand | Artisan |
| Government or administration carried out by officials | Bureaucracy |
| The state or practice of having two spouses at the same time | Bigamy |
| A person belonging to the middle social class | Bourgeois |
| A socially unconventional person, especially an artist or writer | Bohemian |
| A person who readily believes things without sufficient evidence | Credulous |
| A citizen of the world rather than of one particular country | Cosmopolitan |
| The state of having no spouse or abstaining from marriage | Celibacy |
| A person with expert knowledge and appreciation of art, food or other refined subjects | Connoisseur |
| A large number of people or animals grouped closely together | Hundred / Anniversary |
| A language used only for speaking rather than writing | Colloquialism |
| To take possession of something by legal or official authority | Confiscate |
| Something given to compensate for loss, injury or damage | Compensate |
| The final or highest stage of an achievement or process | Consummation |
| A person who owns or controls large amounts of private investment or capital | Capitalist |
| A ruler who exercises absolute power and demands obedience | Dictator |
| A person officially representing his or her country abroad | Diplomat |
| Phrase / Description | One-Word Substitution |
|---|---|
| A person who believes that nothing has real existence | Nihilist |
| A person who is indifferent to pleasure or pain | Stoic |
| Something that reminds one of a person, place or past experience | Reminiscent |
| A person who is unable to control the habit of drinking alcohol | Dipsomaniac |
| A person who strongly supports a particular cause | Zealot |
| The scientific study or collection of coins and medals | Numismatics |
| A quick remedy or supposed cure for a problem | Nostrum |
| A person sent on a special diplomatic or official mission | Emissary |
| A person who spends money wastefully | Spendthrift |
| Something that cannot be penetrated | Impenetrable |
| Something that cannot be wounded or physically harmed | Invulnerable |
| Something that cannot be repaired or restored | Irreparable |
| Something that cannot be avoided or prevented | Inevitable / Unavoidable |
| Something that cannot be adequately explained | Inexplicable |
| Something that cannot be expressed adequately in words | Inexpressible |
| Something that is not stated clearly or explicitly | Inexplicit |
| Something that cannot be justified or excused | Inexcusable |
| Something that cannot be solved | Insoluble |
| Something that cannot be defended or justified | Indefensible |
| Something that cannot be seized or taken by force | Impregnable |
| Something that cannot be admitted or accepted | Inadmissible |
| Something that cannot be reached or approached | Inaccessible |
| A person who never becomes tired | Inexhaustible |
| Something that cannot be perceived by the senses | Imperceptible |
| Something that cannot be destroyed | Indestructible |
| Something that cannot be divided | Indivisible |
| Something that can easily be broken | Brittle |
| A gathering of people for religious worship | Congregation |
| Happening or occurring at the same time | Simultaneous |
| Allowing light to pass through clearly | Transparent |
| Not allowing light to pass through | Opaque |
| A person whose name or identity is unknown | Anonymous |
| Compulsory recruitment into military service | Conscription |
| A figure having many angles and sides | Polygon |
| Relating to or including all parts of the world | Universal |
| The science or systematic study of reasoning | Logic |
| A temporary suspension of fighting before a peace agreement | Armistice |
| Signing another person’s name without permission | Forgery |
| Property inherited from one’s father or ancestors | Patrimony |
| Something that cannot be put into practical use | Impracticable |
| Something that cannot be overcome or defeated | Insurmountable |
| Having neither a beginning nor an end | Eternal |
| A person chiefly interested in making money | Mercenary |
| Something forbidden or prohibited by law | Illicit |
| A person who is fond of entertaining guests | Hospitable |
| A formal forgiveness granted for a political offence | Amnesty |
| A person willing to use false arguments to win a case | Sophist |
| A delicate or inappropriate word used in the wrong situation | Solecism |
| A symbolic religious ceremony, especially baptism | Sacrament |
| A person made to bear the blame for the faults of others | Scapegoat |
| Full of blood or having a blood-red appearance | Sanguine |
| Behaving in an arrogant and overbearing manner | Supercilious |
| Extremely refined, fashionable and cultured | Sophisticated |
| A person who flatters others for personal advantage | Sycophant |
| Excessively formal, emotional or pompous in manner | Sententious |
| A person who takes pleasure in causing pain or cruelty | Sadist |
| Something that allows light to pass through partially | Translucent |
| Communication of thoughts without using the known physical senses | Telepathy |
| The practice of charging excessively high interest on loans | Usury |
| A person who teaches in an overly formal or pedantic manner | Pedagogue |
| An earlier example that serves as a guide for later cases | Precedent |
| A child born after the death of his or her father | Posthumous |
| A book published after the death of its author | Posthumous |
| A person who makes love to several people without serious intention | Philanderer |
| The original model from which later copies are made | Prototype |
| The process of treating milk by controlled heating to destroy harmful microorganisms | Pasteurisation |
| A person who held an office or position before another | Predecessor |
| To think deeply and repeatedly about something | Ruminate |
| A state governed by elected representatives rather than a monarch | Republic |
| To give up a throne, position, right or claim | Renounce |
| To restore someone or something to a good or former condition | Rehabilitate |
| A person who stubbornly refuses to obey rules or authority | Recalcitrant |
| A person guilty of accepting bribes | Venal |
| A person who has abandoned or renounced religious beliefs | Apostate |
| A person who prescribes medicines | Physician |
| Complete loss of voice | Aphonia |
| To abolish or do away with a rule or law | Abrogate |
| To make something thinner, weaker or less concentrated | Attenuate |
| A departure from an accepted rule or standard | Anomaly |
| A person who starves or disciplines the body for spiritual purposes | Ascetic |
| Animals equally capable of living on land and in water | Amphibians |
| Done secretly or without being noticed | Surreptitious |
| A person unconcerned with whether conduct is morally right or wrong | Amoral |
| A person opposed to war and violence | Pacifist |
| Extremely abusive or critical writing | Scurrilous |
| To call upon God or another higher power for help or protection | Invoke |
| Living things or objects possessing life | Animate |
| People working in the same profession, office or department | Colleagues |
| A place where meals are served in return for payment | Restaurant |
| A place with a favourable climate used for treatment or recovery | Sanatorium |
| A system in which the state makes no distinction between different religions | Secularism |
| A person qualified to navigate an aircraft | Navigator |
| To make an offence, problem or dispute more serious | Aggravate |
| To increase the speed of something | Accelerate |
| Financial support legally payable by one spouse to another after separation | Alimony |
| The act of speaking disrespectfully about sacred things | Blasphemy |
| A person with auburn or reddish-brown hair | Blonde / Blond |
| Deliberate and persistent resistance to lawful authority | Contumacy |
| Relating to a person from birth | Congenital |
| To force someone to act through threats or pressure | Coerce |
| An animal that eats flesh | Carnivore |
| The minimum income or resources required to live | Subsistence |
| A person who is emotionally insensitive or unsympathetic | Callous |
| Excessively loud, showy or attention-seeking | Ostentatious |
| To exclude or banish someone from a group or society | Ostracise |
| The art or practice of spelling words correctly | Orthography |
| An unscrupulous person who takes advantage of opportunities for personal benefit | Opportunist |
| The act of determining the exact position or direction of something | Orientation |
| The scientific study of language | Philology |
| The hobby or study of collecting postage stamps | Philately |
| The scientific study of speech sounds | Phonology |
| To make an evasive or misleading statement | Prevaricate |
| A statement or prediction believed to foretell future events | Prophecy |
| The study of ancient writings and inscriptions | Palaeography |
| A concluding passage added to a speech or literary work | Peroration |
| A doctor specialising in mental illness and psychiatric disorders | Psychiatrist |
| Phrase / Description | One-Word Substitution |
|---|---|
| A person who enjoys good food and possesses refined knowledge of it | Epicure |
| Fear of being confined in a small or enclosed space | Claustrophobia |
| A person who travels from one place to another | Itinerant |
| A short stay at a particular place | Sojourn |
| A person who walks or performs on a rope | Acrobat |
| Property or money passed to another person after someone’s death | Legacy |
| A person who believes that pleasure is the chief aim of life | Hedonist |
| A sudden and violent rush of wind | Storm |
| A person having an exaggerated sense of his or her own importance or power | Megalomaniac |
| The original inhabitants of a country or region | Aborigines |
| A flat metal, stone or porcelain plate fixed as a memorial or ornament | Plaque |
| A person with unusual or remarkable talent | Precocious |
| A short walk taken for pleasure or exercise | Stroll |
| The scientific study of skin and its diseases | Dermatology |
| A person who can use both hands equally well | Ambidextrous |
| Fear or dislike of crowds | Agoraphobia |
| A building or place where dead bodies are kept temporarily | Mortuary |
| A person with deep knowledge of language and literature | Philologist |
| A person who remains firm and resists until the end | Diehard |
| A person fanatically devoted to a religion, cause or political ideology | Fanatic |
| A state of wild disorder, noise and confusion | Pandemonium |
| The act of abandoning one’s country or cause | Desertion |
| Treatment of disease or injury through exercise, massage and physical methods | Physiotherapy |
| A bitter and forceful verbal or written attack | Diatribe |
| To unfairly favour or discriminate against someone or something | Prejudice |
| The examination of one’s own thoughts, feelings and motives | Introspection |
| A small enclosure or structure for cattle, sheep or poultry | Fold |
| The departure of a large number of people from a place | Exodus |
| A person having strange or unusual habits | Eccentric |
| Lack of sufficient healthy red blood cells or haemoglobin | Anaemia |
| An uncontrollable urge to steal | Kleptomania |
| Something that can be accomplished or carried out successfully | Feasible |
| A person who walks on ropes, especially as a performer | Acrobat |
| The study of the origin and historical development of words | Etymology |
| The study or science of maps and map-making | Cartography |
| Strong bands of tissue connecting bones at a joint | Ligaments |
| Something capable of being understood in more than one way | Ambiguous |
| The final speech or short address given at the end of a dramatic performance | Epilogue |
| The act of deliberately deceiving someone for personal gain | Fraud |
| To cut or divide something into two parts | Sever |
| A line of hereditary rulers from the same family | Dynasty |
| An irrational fear or suspicion of other people | Paranoia |
| A person or thing belonging naturally to a particular place | Indigenous |
| The act of placing one thing beside another for comparison | Juxtaposition |
| A preserved body of a human or animal prepared for burial | Mummy |
| Something harmful, poisonous or unhealthy | Trivial |
| A person who is physically or mentally inactive | Torpid |
| The belief that God is present in everything and that everything forms part of God | Pantheism |
| A person lacking understanding or appreciation of art and culture | Philistine |
| A person who rejects or attacks established traditions and beliefs | Iconoclast |
| A medical specialist who tests and treats eyesight problems | Ophthalmologist |
| A wall or raised structure built to prevent flooding by the sea or a river | Embankment |
| A word formed by repeating the initial sound or letter of neighbouring words | Alliteration |
| Something that cannot be recalled or reversed | Irredeemable |
| A person who journeys from place to place | Itinerant |
| A state of extreme poverty and lack of possessions | Destitution |
| A short-lived or temporary condition | Transitory |
| Persistent effort towards achieving a goal | Perseverance |
| An event or occasion of great significance | Momentous |
| Having an excessively high opinion of oneself | Conceited |
| A small umbrella, especially one used as protection from the sun | Parasol |
| An uncontrollable craving for alcoholic drinks | Dipsomania |
| An uncontrollable desire to set things on fire | Pyromania |
| An infectious disease affecting the throat | Diphtheria |
| The practice of worshipping idols or images as gods | Idolatry |
| Strongly opposing traditional beliefs, customs or established institutions | Iconoclastic |
| A place where public or historical records are preserved | Archive |
| Living together as partners without being legally married | Concubinage |
| Excessive insistence on formal rules, ceremonies or procedures | Red-Tapism |
| Something that lasts only for a short period | Transitory |
| A person devoted to sensual or bodily pleasures | Epicurean |
| The sound made by a funeral bell | Knell |
| The belief that war and violence are unjustifiable | Pacifism |
| A group of girls | Bevy |
| A military signal sounded in the morning to wake soldiers | Reveille |
| The highest singing voice of a woman or young boy | Soprano |
| A soft song sung to help a baby sleep | Lullaby |
| A religious song sung in praise of God | Anthem |
| A sea or region containing a large group of islands | Archipelago |
| To move with quick, short twisting movements | Wriggle |
| A person capable of performing many different tasks or possessing several talents | Versatile |
| A dramatic entertainment performed without speech | Masque |
| A person highly skilled in horse riding | Equestrian |
| Extreme old age accompanied by declining mental or physical abilities | Dotage |
| Something that can be touched or physically felt | Palpable |
| A person who has recently acquired wealth, status or influence | Parvenu |
| A short journey made by a group for pleasure or a particular purpose | Excursion |
| Something that makes it difficult to recognise the true nature of a person or thing | Camouflage |
| A person who believes that human nature is essentially selfish | Cynic |
| A writing style that displays excessive or unnecessary learning | Pedantic |
| A person pretending to be someone else in order to deceive others | Impostor |
| A person who specialises in the scientific study of birds | Ornithologist |
| To act as an intermediary between two parties in a dispute | Intercede |
| Something lacking depth, seriousness or thoroughness | Superficial |
| A building used for storing grain | Granary |
| A light sailing boat, especially one designed for racing | Yacht |
| A person opposed to major or sudden political or social change | Conservative |
| Relationship between people who share a common ancestor or blood relation | Consanguinity |
| A person who lives permanently in a particular place | Domicile |
| Something added to a letter after it has been signed | Postscript |
| Phrase / Description | One-Word Substitution |
|---|---|
| Fear of water | Hydrophobia |
| A person who loves learning and knowledge | Philomath |
| A person who speaks two languages fluently | Bilingual |
| A person who is excessively concerned with minor details or rules | Pedant |
| A winding sheet used to wrap a dead body | Shroud |
| Something done according to established customs | Customary |
| Abnormally high blood pressure | Hypertension |
| The art of beautiful and decorative handwriting | Calligraphy |
| Traditional customs and beliefs passed from generation to generation | Tradition |
| Skill in making things by hand | Handicraft |
| The cultivation of fruits, vegetables and flowers | Horticulture |
| The art or science of making maps | Cartography |
| The art and science of designing buildings | Architecture |
| The art of speaking clearly and effectively | Elocution |
| Explanatory remarks placed at the beginning of a book | Preface |
| Producing young by laying eggs | Oviparous |
| Producing living young instead of laying eggs | Viviparous |
| A belief not based on reason, evidence or scientific knowledge | Superstition |
| Belonging to or originating in the distant past | Ancient |
| Fear of a dead body | Necrophobia |
| Fear of animals | Zoophobia |
| Fear of heights | Acrophobia |
| Fear of one’s home or home surroundings | Ecophobia |
| Fear of oneself or being alone | Autophobia |
| Fear or dislike of foreigners or strangers | Xenophobia |
| A person who drinks excessive amounts of alcohol | Bibulous |
| A husband who is excessively controlled by his wife | Henpecked / Uxorious |
| Money paid to secure the release of a captive or prisoner | Ransom |
| A ceremony performed after someone’s death | Funeral / Obsequies |
| A young woman who flirts playfully | Coquette |
| To provide evidence supporting a statement or theory | Corroborate |
| A group of talkative girls or women | Gaggle |
| A person who dislikes or opposes new ideas and innovations | Misoneist |
| A person who strongly dislikes smoking | Misocapnic |
| An unpleasant smell or taste | Foul |
| A person who assists another in committing a crime or wrongdoing | Accomplice / Accessory |
| Something helpful but not absolutely necessary | Accessory |
| A holy or sacred place | Sanctuary |
| The quality of being honest and morally upright | Integrity |
| A group or governing board of directors | Directorate |
| The entire body of eligible voters | Electorate |
| A brief account or condensed treatment of a subject | Summary / Compendium |
| Something capable of being wounded or harmed | Vulnerable |
| Action taken beforehand to prevent danger or reduce risk | Precaution |
| The main character in a story, play or drama | Protagonist |
| A collection of poems or literary pieces | Anthology |
| A condition caused by insufficient or improper nourishment | Malnutrition |
| Beneficial or favourable to physical or moral health | Wholesome |
| A formal meeting held to discuss a particular subject | Symposium |
| A complete list of goods, furniture or other possessions | Inventory |
| An extreme shortage of food affecting many people | Famine |
| Fear of being in open or crowded places | Agoraphobia |
| Fear or intense dislike of books | Bibliophobia |
| An irrational fear of snakes | Ophidiophobia |
| Something that cannot be altered or changed | Unalterable / Irrevocable |
| The killing of a large number of defenceless people | Massacre |
| The murder of an important person, especially for political reasons | Assassination |
| The murder of one’s sister | Sororicide |
| The murder of one’s husband | Mariticide |
| The murder of one’s mother | Matricide |
| The murder of one’s wife | Uxoricide |
| A very large retail store selling a wide variety of goods | Emporium |
| Large-scale destruction, especially by fire | Holocaust |
| The law-making body of a country or state | Legislature |
| A formal legal investigation into the cause of an event or wrongdoing | Inquisition |
| A list explaining difficult or specialised words | Glossary |
| A person who loves animals | Philozoic |
| A person who loves art | Philotechnic |
| A person who loves dogs | Canophilist |
| A person who loves God | Philotheist |
| A person who loves women | Philogynist |
| A person who loves poetry and the arts | Philomuse |
| A supposed marriage or union with God | Theogamy |
| A medicine or drug that induces sleep | Narcotic |
| A name derived from the name of one’s father or ancestor | Patronymic |
| Something having no material or physical form | Incorporeal |
| A published notice announcing a person’s death | Obituary |
| A person who never dies | Immortal |
| A person who repeatedly gets into difficulties | Scapegrace |
| A person who can speak several languages | Polyglot |
| A person sent on a confidential or special official mission | Emissary |
| A person who habitually talks while asleep | Somniloquist |
| A person who walks while asleep | Somnambulist |
| A person who displays excessive or unreasonable patriotism | Chauvinist |
| A person who studies or analyses handwriting | Graphologist |
| A person who secretly plans with others to commit an unlawful act | Conspirator |
| A person who receives something | Recipient |
| A person recovering health after an illness | Convalescent |
| A person who plans or supports the overthrow of established government | Anarchist |
| To persuade someone through flattery or coaxing | Cajole |
| A political system in which the state exercises almost complete control | Totalitarianism |
| A person who speaks little and remains reserved | Reticent |
| The scientific study of poisons | Toxicology |
| The scientific study of time | Horology |
| The scientific study of human races and their relationships | Ethnology |
| The scientific study of fossils | Palaeontology |
| A temple or building dedicated to all the gods | Pantheon |
| Something resembling a pig | Porcine |
| Something that can be bent easily without breaking | Flexible |
| An animal that feeds mainly on grass or plants | Herbivore |
| Something likely to cause serious harm or damage | Detrimental |
| Something resembling a dead body | Cadaverous |
| Something resembling or relating to a cat | Feline |
| Something resembling or relating to a cow | Bovine |
| Something resembling or relating to a fish | Piscine |
| Something morally harmful or dangerous | Pestiferous |
| Something prohibited by law | Prohibitory |
| A large number of wagons travelling together | Proletariat |
| A word whose meaning is difficult to understand | Abstruse |
| Materials such as pens, paper and writing supplies | Stationery |
| A position that carries no salary or remuneration | Honorary |
| A person who studies the human mind and behaviour | Psychologist |
| A person actively involved in political or social causes | Activist |
| A person who secretly listens to another person’s private conversation | Eavesdropper |
| A person belonging to the original inhabitants of a region | Aboriginal |
| A permanent military station | Cantonment |
| A state of overwhelming happiness or delight | Ecstasy / Bliss |
| A person who holds an important or high-ranking office | Dignitary |
| A person held as a prisoner | Captive |
| A person who participates in state affairs or government | Statesman |
| A person who initiates legal proceedings against another | Plaintiff |
| A person using extreme or disruptive methods to bring political or social change | Extremist |
| A policy of extending a country’s political or economic control over other territories | Imperialism |
| A woman whose husband has died | Widow |
| A man whose wife has died | Widower |
| The outline or plot of a play, film or opera | Scenario |
| A woman who receives and entertains guests | Hostess |
| A vehicle specially equipped to carry sick or injured people | Ambulance |
| A vehicle used for carrying a dead body | Hearse |
| A person who is extremely cruel or savage | Fiend |
| A written statement providing information about a particular matter | Memorandum |
| A person who travels to other countries for pleasure | Tourist |
| Something that can easily be broken or damaged | Fragile |
| The tendency to expect unfavourable or negative outcomes | Pessimism |
| A person who habitually expects negative outcomes | Pessimist |
| The tendency to expect favourable or positive outcomes | Optimism |
| Phrase / Description | One-Word Substitution |
|---|---|
| A person who always expects or sees the positive side of things | Optimist |
| A person who lives in a large city or metropolitan area | Metropolitan |
| A substance used for killing insects | Insecticide |
| A person who treats diseases and problems related to the nervous system | Neurologist |
| A group of ships travelling or operating together | Fleet |
| A person who eats human flesh | Cannibal |
| A person who specialises in pregnancy and childbirth | Obstetrician |
| A person who studies and treats heart diseases | Cardiologist |
| A person who specialises in children’s diseases | Paediatrician |
| A person who examines and treats teeth | Dentist |
| A person who examines eyesight and supplies corrective glasses | Optician |
| A medicine or substance that causes vomiting | Emetic |
| Something that cannot be exhausted or completely used up | Inexhaustible |
| A person who comes to another country intending to settle there | Immigrant |
| A person who leaves their own country to settle in another | Emigrant |
| A person living in a country other than their native country | Alien |
| A person who believes in the existence of God | Theist |
| A person who does not believe in the existence of God | Atheist |
| A person who believes in fate or destiny | Fatalist |
| A person who loves humanity | Philanthropist |
| A person who practises an art or activity for pleasure rather than professionally | Amateur |
| Letters used in writing a particular language | Alphabet |
| The story of a person’s life written by another person | Biography |
| The story of one’s life written by oneself | Autobiography |
| A man who remains unmarried | Bachelor |
| A woman who remains unmarried | Spinster / Maid |
| A person who can read and write | Literate |
| A person who cannot read or write | Illiterate |
| A person who has unlimited power | Omnipotent |
| One who is present everywhere | Omnipresent |
| One who knows everything | Omniscient |
| The person who begins an attack or conflict | Aggressor |
| Something impossible or extremely difficult to understand | Incomprehensible |
| A substance used to destroy harmful microorganisms or germs | Germicide |
| A substance applied to living tissue to prevent infection | Antiseptic |
| Swelling, redness or irritation in a part of the body | Inflammation |
| A speech delivered without prior preparation | Extempore |
| A specialist dealing with diseases and injuries of bones and joints | Orthopaedist |
| A doctor specialising in diseases of the female reproductive system | Gynaecologist |
| A person specialising in heart diseases | Cardiologist |
| Something that serves as a reminder of a person or event | Memento |
| A plant or animal that lives on or in another organism and obtains nourishment from it | Parasite |
| A child whose parents are dead | Orphan |
| A person deeply devoted to his or her country | Patriot |
| A person who brings goods into a country from abroad | Importer |
| A person who sends goods from one country to another for sale | Exporter |
| The dead body of a human being | Corpse |
| The dead body of an animal | Carcass |
| A person who writes the life story of another person | Biographer |
| A person who writes the story of his or her own life | Autobiographer |
| People who live during the same period | Contemporaries |
| People who share the same opinions or views | Unanimous |
| The yearly recurrence of an important date or event | Anniversary |
| A substance such as ether used to prevent pain during an operation | Anaesthetic |
| A person skilled in examining or analysing something | Analyst |
| A person who habitually eats excessively | Glutton |
| A female goose | Goose |
| A sheltered place where ships can anchor safely | Harbour |
| Equipment placed on a horse for control or attachment | Harness |
| A spear attached to a rope and used for catching whales or large fish | Harpoon |
| An adult male deer | Hart |
| A plane figure having seven sides | Heptagon |
| A number of animals feeding, living or travelling together | Herd |
| A plane figure having six sides | Hexagon |
| A person who takes part in the unlawful seizure of a vehicle or aircraft | Hijacker |
| A word having the same pronunciation as another but a different meaning | Homonym |
| A supreme hereditary ruler such as a king or queen | Monarch |
| A holiday taken by a newly married couple | Honeymoon |
| A diagram showing the positions of celestial bodies at a particular time, traditionally used in astrology | Horoscope |
| A person who receives and entertains guests | Host |
| A woman who receives and entertains guests | Hostess |
| A dog specially trained or used for hunting | Hound |
| A person who abducts someone and holds them by force | Kidnapper |
| A place where clothes are professionally washed and pressed | Laundry |
| A military officer immediately below the rank of captain | Lieutenant |
| An officer of a corresponding junior rank in the navy | Lieutenant |
| An alcoholic beverage | Liquor |
| The bags, suitcases and belongings carried by a traveller | Luggage |
| A young unmarried woman | Maiden |
| A speech delivered publicly for the first time | Maiden Speech |
| An animal that feeds its young with milk produced by the female | Mammal |
| A handwritten or typed document, especially before publication | Manuscript |
| An adult female horse or donkey | Mare |
| A woman responsible for supervising nurses in a hospital | Matron |
| A magnificent or imposing tomb | Mausoleum |
| A student of medicine | Medico |
| A building erected to preserve the memory of a person or event | Monument |
| A hotel designed mainly for motorists, usually with parking facilities | Motel |
| A building where historical, scientific or artistic objects are preserved and displayed | Museum |
| The flesh of sheep used as food | Mutton |
| Sweet liquid produced by flowers that attracts pollinating insects and birds | Nectar |
| A person who lives nearby | Neighbour |
| A person who has recently married | Neogamist |
| A member of a community that moves from place to place | Nomad |
| The central part of a cell containing genetic material | Nucleus |
| A room or place specially intended for young children | Nursery |
| A place where young plants are grown for later transplantation | Nursery |
| A beautiful young woman, especially in poetic or mythological usage | Nymph |
| A published announcement of a person’s death | Obituary |
| A plane figure having eight sides | Octagon |
| The young of an animal | Offspring |
| A person who frequently looks after children | Babysitter |
| A group of musicians performing together, especially with different instruments | Orchestra |
| A person employed to look after horses | Ostler |
| A plane figure shaped like an egg | Oval |
| A person who claims to predict the future by examining the lines of the palm | Palmist |
| A supposed remedy for every disease or problem | Panacea |
| An ideal place or state of perfect happiness and peace | Paradise |
| The supreme law-making body of a country | Parliament |
| Words that sound alike but differ in meaning or spelling | Paronyms |
| A person roughly between childhood and adulthood | Adolescent |
| A person aged sixty years | Sexagenarian |
| A very small organism capable of causing disease | Microbe |
| An optical instrument used to magnify very small objects | Microscope |
| A period of one thousand years | Millennium |
| One thousand million | Milliard / Billion |
| One thousand multiplied by one thousand | Million |
| A person whose wealth amounts to at least a million monetary units | Millionaire |
| A person who works in a mine | Miner |
| A place where coins are manufactured | Mint |
| The official written record of proceedings at a meeting | Minutes |
| A bold, forward or impudent young woman | Minx |
| A person who supervises or presides over an examination | Moderator |
| A building or community in which monks live | Monastery |
| Phrase / Description | One-Word Substitution |
|---|---|
| A person who is seventy years old | Septuagenarian |
| A person whose profession is to maintain and examine financial accounts | Accountant |
| A person who has long experience in a particular occupation or activity | Veteran |
| A person who is eighty years old | Octogenarian |
| A person who drives or operates an aeroplane | Pilot / Aeronaut |
| A person who believes strongly in himself or considers himself very important | Egoist |
| A place specially designed for keeping fish and other aquatic organisms | Aquarium |
| A person who plays the violin | Violinist |
| A person who is ninety years old | Nonagenarian |
| An event that occurs once every two years | Biennial |
| An event that occurs once every three years | Triennial |
| An event that occurs once every four years | Quadrennial |
| An event that occurs once every five years | Quinquennial |
| An event that occurs once every six years | Sexennial |
| An event that occurs once every seven years | Septennial |
| An event that occurs once every eight years | Octennial |
| An event that occurs once every ten years | Decennial |
| A person who is one hundred years old or more | Centenarian |
| A person who scientifically studies languages | Linguist |
| A person who eats only plant-based food | Vegetarian |
| A person who eats both plant and animal food | Non-vegetarian |
| A person who spends money excessively, especially on luxuries | Extravagant |
| A person with whom one is familiar but who is not necessarily a close friend | Acquaintance |
| A collection of instruments or equipment arranged for a particular purpose | Apparatus |
| A written statement confirmed by oath and used as legal evidence | Affidavit |
| A place where aircraft take off, land and are maintained | Aerodrome |
| A person engaged in farming or agriculture | Agriculturist |
| The framework of bones supporting the human or animal body | Skeleton |
| A book containing information on many subjects, usually arranged alphabetically | Encyclopaedia |
| A building in which dead bodies are reduced to ashes | Crematorium |
| Something that catches fire very easily | Inflammable |
| A building or group of buildings where soldiers live | Barracks |
| Something capable of being heard | Audible |
| Something capable of being seen | Visible |
| A portable device used to receive radio broadcasts | Transistor |
| A change in shape, size, appearance or character | Transformation |
| A group of travellers, merchants or pilgrims journeying together | Caravan |
| A public statement of policies and promises issued before an election | Manifesto |
| A disease regularly found in a particular region or population | Endemic |
| A disease affecting many people in a community or region at the same time | Epidemic |
| An epidemic spreading across several countries or continents | Pandemic |
| An animal that moves by crawling or creeping | Reptile |
| The green pigment responsible for photosynthesis in plants | Chlorophyll |
| The hundredth anniversary of an event | Centenary |
| A chemical substance used for cleaning | Detergent |
| A person legally appointed to carry out the instructions contained in a will | Executor |
| The deliberate killing of one’s brother | Fratricide |
| A person who advocates equal rights and opportunities for women | Feminist |
| An animal that produces milk and feeds its young with it | Mammal |
| Animals that live mainly or entirely in water | Aquatic |
| A word having a meaning opposite to another word | Antonym |
| A word having the same or nearly the same meaning as another | Synonym |
| A group of people gathered to listen to a speaker or performance | Audience |
| The bags and suitcases carried by a traveller | Luggage |
| An area of land on which grapevines are cultivated | Vineyard |
| A person who has never had sexual intercourse | Virgin |
| An unexpected event occurring by chance | Accident |
| Something that cannot be read or deciphered | Illegible |
| A false or deceptive appearance, impression or belief | Illusion |
| A person with expert knowledge of law | Jurist |
| A systematic method of naming or classifying things | Nomenclature |
| A person who takes advantage of circumstances for personal benefit without regard to principle | Opportunist |
| Complete agreement of opinion among all members of a group | Unanimity |
| A person who provides live spoken commentary on an event | Commentator |
| The final or most extreme condition or point | Ultimatum |
| A system of government in which representatives are elected by the people | Democracy |
| Something that cannot be burnt | Incombustible |
| An instrument used for viewing distant objects | Telescope |
| A journey made by sea | Voyage |
| An official decision or order issued by a court | Decree |
| A person who kills a king | Regicide |
| A person who kills an infant | Infanticide |
| A lawyer who gives legal advice and prepares legal documents | Solicitor |
| An official order issued by a court requiring a person to appear | Summons |
| A list of books and writings, especially those related to a particular author or subject | Bibliography |
| A narrow passage connecting different rooms or parts of a building | Corridor |
| A person who greatly appreciates fine food | Gourmand |
| A person who breaks into a building to steal | Burglar |
| A person who secretly or illegally brings goods into or out of a country | Smuggler |
| A person who buys goods or services from a shop or business | Customer |
| A person who asks questions during an interview | Interviewer |
| A person who is extremely fond of reading books | Bookworm |
| A person who carefully avoids unnecessary expenditure | Economical / Frugal |
| A person who lives and works for the welfare of others | Altruist |
| A person trained to travel and work in outer space | Astronaut |
| A person who travels to a sacred place for religious reasons | Pilgrim |
| A person travelling on foot | Pedestrian |
| Passed from one generation to another | Hereditary |
| A period of ten years | Decade |
| A person forced to leave their country to escape war, persecution or danger | Refugee |
| A person sent to another country or region to spread a religion | Missionary |
| Land that is unable to support the growth of crops or vegetation | Barren |
| A person appointed to represent their country officially in another country | Ambassador |
| A person who readily believes what others tell them | Credulous |
| A place where weapons, ammunition and military equipment are stored | Armoury |
| A scientist who studies stars, planets and other celestial objects | Astronomer |
| A large group or colony of ants | Swarm |
| A period of fourteen days | Fortnight |
| A systematic list of books, goods or other items | Catalogue |
| A person strongly and blindly devoted to a belief or cause | Bigot |
| Any drink other than water | Beverage |
| An instrument used to measure atmospheric pressure | Barometer |
| A person who voluntarily avoids drinking alcoholic beverages | Teetotaller |
| The state of remaining unmarried, often for religious reasons | Celibacy |
| An imaginary line around the middle of the Earth, equally distant from both poles | Equator |
| A place where children without parental care are housed and looked after | Orphanage |
| A person who prepares and sells medicines | Druggist |
| A person who operates or manages a beauty salon | Beautician |
| A person who uses fear or intimidation to achieve an objective | Terrorist |
| A person who acts against or betrays their own country | Traitor |
| A person regarded as uncivilised or culturally primitive | Barbarian |
| People employed in an organisation, military unit or service | Personnel |
| A place or room where clothes are stored | Wardrobe |
| A place where dead bodies are buried | Cemetery |
| A hall or building designed for audiences at performances, lectures or meetings | Auditorium |
| A place where beehives are kept | Apiary |
| A place where birds are kept | Aviary |
| An organised series of activities designed to achieve a particular objective | Campaign |
| A medical examination of a dead body to determine the cause of death | Post-mortem |
| Money paid to someone for work or services performed | Remuneration |
| Soldiers who fight on foot | Infantry |
| Soldiers trained to fight on horseback | Cavalry |
| Land capable of producing abundant crops | Fertile |
| Something that is no longer used because it has become outdated | Obsolete |