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A collection of advanced C2 vocabulary by common topics
C2 is the highest advanced level of vocabulary in the English proficiency assessment table. In IELTS Writing and Speaking skills, accurately applying C2 vocabulary in the proper context will help you quickly improve your band score. In the below article, PREP has gathered and compiled C2 vocabulary to help students study and reference together!
- I. A collection of advanced C2 vocabulary by common topics
- 1. The Business World
- 2. The World of Politics
- 3. Employment
- 4. Crime and Punishment
- 5. The character of People
- 6. Poverty and Social Issues
- 7. Food, Travel and Holidays
- 8. Issues Facing Young People
- 9. Medical and Health Issues
- 10. The Entertainment industry and the Mass Media
- 11. Environmental issues and the Natural World
- II. Download the PDF file for an effective C2-level English vocabulary learning book
- III. Exercises on C2 vocabulary
- I. A collection of advanced C2 vocabulary by common topics
I. A collection of advanced C2 vocabulary by common topics
English C2 vocabulary is often not used extensively in everyday communication due to its formal nature. However, you will encounter a lot of C2 vocabulary in articles and news. Let's explore some C2 vocabulary together with PREP!
1. The Business World
First of all, we will explore C2 vocabulary in the business world. This topic is vast and includes many advanced vocabulary words. Let's discover what English vocabulary is used in this field together with PREP.
C2 English vocabulary: The Business World | |
| Conglomerate (n): a large company formed by joining together different firms | Mogul (n): a very rich, important and powerful person |
| Consortium (n): a group of people, countries, companies, etc. who are working together on a particular project | Loophole (n): a mistake in the way a law, contract, etc. has been written that enables people to legally avoid doing something that the law, contract, etc. had intended them to do |
| Delegation (n): a group of people who represent the views of an organization, a country, etc. | Indemnify (v): to promise to pay somebody an amount of money if they suffer any damage or loss |
| Ascertain (v): to find out the true or correct information about something | Mandate (n): the authority to do something, given to a government or other organization by the people who vote for it in an election |
| Unsolicited (adj): not asked for and sometimes not wanted | Margin (n): the difference between the cost of buying or producing |
| Penetration (n): the act or process of making a way into or through something | Inventory (n): a written list of all the objects, furniture, etc. in a particular building |
| Orientation (n): a person’s basic beliefs or feelings about a particular subject | Purveyor (n): a person or company that supplies something |
| Mitigate (v): to make something less harmful, serious, etc. | Boycott (v): to refuse to buy, use or take part in something as a way of protesting |
| Predatory (adj): living by killing and eating other animals | Nominal (adj): being something in name only, and not in reality |
| Meritocracy (n): a country or social system where people get power or money on the basis of their ability | Mark-up (n): an increase in the price of something based on the difference between the cost of producing it and the price it is sold at |
| Protectionism (n): the principle or practice of protecting a country’s own industry by taxing foreign goods | Tranche (n): one of the parts into which an amount of money or a number of shares in a company is divided |
| Ideologically (adv): in a way that is based on or connected with an ideology | Cut-throat business (n): a business in which people compete with each other in aggressive and unfair ways |
| Punitive (adj): intended as punishment | False bottom (n): A false bottom occurs when temporary relief lifts stock prices for a period of time, and investors assume a correction or bear market has come to an end. |
| Nepotistism (n): the act of using your power or influence to get good jobs or unfair advantages for members of your own family: | Junk bond (n): a bond that has a high risk that it will not be paid back, but that may possibly make a large profit |
| Precedent (n): an action, situation, or decision that has already happened and can be used as a reason why a similar action or decision should be performed or made | Cash flow (n): the amount of money moving into and out of a business |
| Capitulation (n): the act of accepting defeat | Credit check (n): an examination of someone's credit history (= record of paying debt) by, for example, a financial organization that is considering lending them money or a possible employer |
| Unilaterally (adv): in a way that involves doing or deciding something without first asking or agreeing with another person, group, or country | Factory floor (n): the area where the ordinary workers in a factory work |
| Viability (n): ability to work as intended or to succeed | Double-dip recession (n): a period of time during which economic activity goes down, increases a little, and then goes down again |
| Insolvent (n): (especially of a company) not having enough money to pay debts, buy goods, etc. | Corporate ladder (n): a series of increasingly important jobs that someone can do within a company |
| Requisition (n): a formal, official written request or demand for something | Credit crunch (n): an economic condition in which it suddenly becomes difficult and expensive to borrow money |
| Repossessed property (n): Belongings taken back from someone who didn't pay their debt. | Cottage industry (n): a small business in which the work is done by people in their homes |
| Inheritance (n): the money, property, etc. that you receive from somebody when they die; the fact of receiving something when somebody dies | |
2. The World of Politics
Let’s explore English C2 vocabulary related to politics to facilitate reading and understanding world news.
C2 level English vocabulary: The World of Politics | |
| Concede (v): to admit that something is true, logical, etc. after first denying it or resisting it | Cabinet reshuffle (n): occurring when a head of government rotates or changes the composition of ministers in their cabinet, or when the head of state changes the head of government and a number of ministers |
| Renege (v): to break a promise, an agreement, etc. | Front runner (n): a person, an animal or an organization that seems most likely to win a race or competition |
| Capture (v): to catch a person or an animal and keep them as a prisoner or shut them in a space that they cannot escape from | Dark horse (n): a person who does not tell other people much about their life, and who surprises other people by having interesting qualities |
| Convene (v): to arrange for people to come together for a formal meeting | Exit poll (n): in an exit poll immediately after an election, people are asked how they voted, in order to predict the result of the election |
| Heckle (v): to interrupt a speaker at a public meeting by shouting out questions or rude remarks | Hung parliament (n): a situation in which no single political party has enough seats (= positions that people are elected to in a parliament) to have total control |
| Canvassing (v): to try to get political support or votes, especially by visiting all the houses in an area | Diplomatic immunity (n): the special rights that diplomats have while working in a country that is not their own, such as freedom from legal action |
| Withdraw (v): to take or move out or back, or to remove | Landslide victory (n): an election result in which the victorious candidate or party wins by an overwhelming margin |
| Ratify (v): to make an agreement officially or legally valid by voting for or signing it | Financial ombudsman (n): an independent and impartial authority or organization that helps resolve disputes between financial institutions (such as banks, insurance companies) and their customers |
| Nominate (v): to formally suggest that somebody/something should be chosen for an important role, prize, position, etc. | Public-private partnership (n): an arrangement where a government and a profit-making company invest in and work on an activity together |
| Pledge (v): to formally promise to give or do something | Trade surplus (n): a situation in which the value of a country’s exports is greater than the value of its imports |
| Polarize (v): to separate or make people separate into two groups with completely opposite opinions | Fiscal year (n): a period of twelve months over which the accounts and taxes of a company or a person are calculated |
| Gambit (n): a thing that somebody does, or something that somebody says at the beginning of a situation or conversation, that is intended to give them some advantage | Tertiary sector (n): The third sector is one of three main economic sectors, including service provision activities such as trade, finance, tourism, education, health and other professional services. |
| Catalyst (n): a substance that makes a chemical reaction happen faster without being changed itself | National debt (n): the total amount of money that the government of a country owes |
| Whistle-stop (n): visiting a lot of different places in a very short time | Free trade (n): a system of international trade in which there are no limits or taxes on imports and exports |
| Gerrymandering (n): the act of changing the size and borders of an area for voting in order to give an unfair advantage to one party in an election | Excise duty (n): a tax on some types of goods such as alcohol, cigarettes, or petrol paid to a national or state government |
| Bureaucratic (adj): relating to a system of controlling or managing a country, company, or organization that is operated by a large number of officials | Attorney general (n): the top legal officer in some countries, whose job is to provide legal advice to the government and to represent the government |
| Bipartisan (n): supported by or consisting of two political parties | Civil service (n): the government departments responsible for putting central government plans into action |
| Partisan (n): a person who strongly supports a particular leader, group or idea | Semi-state company (n): a company that is state-owned but managed independently along commercial lines |
| Appetite (n): a strong desire for something | Welfare state (n): a system by which the government provides a range of services to people who need them, for example medical care, money for people without work, care for old people, etc. |
| take over (v): to become bigger or more important than something else; to replace something | Welfare state (n): a system by which the government provides a range of services to people who need them, for example medical care, money for people without work, care for old people, etc. |
3. Employment
Job searching is currently a highly discussed topic, and if you're applying to companies or corporations, it's essential to know these vocabulary words. Let's explore them right away with PREP!
C2 word list: Employment | |
| Hiring policy (n): a statement of the overall practices, policies, and processes that a company uses when it hires employees | Permanent (adj): lasting for a long time or for all time in the future; existing all the time |
| Blue-collar worker (n): people who do physical work in industry | Internship (n): a period of time during which a student or new graduate gets practical experience in a job, for example during the summer holiday |
| Benefit in kind (n): something, such as a car, free meals, or a mobile phone, that an employer gives to an employee in addition to their salary | Recession (n): a difficult time for the economy of a country, when there is less trade and industrial activity than usual and more people are unemployed |
| Unemployment benefit (n): money paid by the government to somebody who is unemployed | Autocrat (n): a leader who has complete power |
| Employment tribunal (n): a type of court that can decide on disagreements between employees and employers | Hierarchy (n): a system, especially in a society or an organization, in which people are organized into different levels of importance from highest to lowest |
| Constructive dismissal (n): a situation in which you are forced to leave your job because it is changed in a way that makes it impossible for you to continue doing it | Apprenticeship (n): a period of time working as an apprentice; a job as an apprentice |
| Social insurance (n): money that employers and employees pay to the government so that people receive money when they are not able to work because of age, illness, etc. | Profession (n): any type of work that needs special training or a particular skill, often one that is respected because it involves a high level of education |
| Glass ceiling (n): the way in which unfair attitudes can stop women, or other groups, from getting the best jobs in a company, etc. although there are no official rules to prevent them from getting these jobs | White-collar worker (n): people working in an office, rather than in a factory, etc.; connected with work in offices |
| Working conditions (n): The conditions under which employees have to work | Remuneration (n): an amount of money that is paid to somebody for the work they have done |
| Performance appraisal (n): the act of examining someone or something in order to judge their or its qualities, success, or needs | Threshold (n): the level at which something starts to happen or have an effect |
| Shop steward (n): a person who is elected by members of a trade union in a factory or company to represent them in meetings with managers | Partner (n): a person that you are doing an activity with, such as dancing or playing a game |
| Salary freeze (n): a situation in which a company stops increasing employees' pay because of financial difficulties | Camaraderie (n): a feeling of friendliness towards people that you work or share an experience with |
| Pay dispute (n): a disagreement between workers and employers concerning salary | Fringe benefit (n): something that an employer gives you as well as your wages |
| Career prospects (n): the possibility of being successful in your working life | Receivership (n): the state of a business being controlled by an official receiver because it has no money |
| Office politics (n): the relationships within an organization that allow particular people to have power over others | Pseudonym (n): a name someone uses instead of their real name, especially on a written work |
| Maternity leave (n): a period in which a woman is legally allowed to be absent from work in the weeks before and after she gives birth | Plaintiff (n): someone who makes a legal complaint against someone else in court |
| Pay slip (n): a piece of paper given to an employee to show how much they have earned and any deductions (= amounts taken off for income tax, etc.) in a particular period | Enforcement (n): the process of making people obey a law or rule, or making a particular situation happen or be accepted |
| Job specification (n): a description of the exact tasks involved in a particular job, and of the skills, experience, and personality a person would need in order to do the job | |
4. Crime and Punishment
Do you already know how many C2 vocabulary words about crime? Let's find out the details together with PREP in the table below!
C2 level vocabulary list: Crime and Punishment | |
| Abductor (n): a person who makes someone go somewhere with them, especially using threats or violence | Subpoena (v): to order somebody to attend court and give evidence as a witness |
| Homicidal (adj): likely to kill another person; making somebody likely to kill another person | Apprehend (v): to catch somebody and arrest them |
| Embezzle (v): to steal money that you are responsible for or that belongs to your employer | Incarcerate (v): to put somebody in prison or in another place from which they cannot escape |
| Harassment (n): the act of annoying or worrying somebody by putting pressure on them or saying or doing unpleasant things to them | Bail (v): to release somebody on bail |
| Money laundering (n): the crime of moving money that has been obtained illegally into foreign bank accounts or legal businesses so that it is difficult for people to know where the money came from | Deport (v): to force somebody to leave a country, usually because they have broken the law or because they have no legal right to be there |
| Racketeering (n): the activity of making money through dishonest or illegal activities | Extradite (v): to officially send back somebody who has been accused or found guilty of a crime to the country where the crime was committed |
| Smuggler (n): a person who takes goods into or out of a country illegally | Inspect (v): to look closely at something/somebody, especially to check that everything is as it should be |
| Blackmail (n): the crime of demanding money from a person by threatening to tell somebody else a secret about them | Impose (v): to introduce a new law, rule, tax, etc.; to order that a rule, punishment, etc. be used |
| Stalk (v): to illegally follow and watch somebody over a long period of time, in a way that is annoying or frightening | Overturn (v): if something overturns, or if somebody overturns it, it turns into a position in which the top of it is where the bottom of it normally is or on its side |
| Petty criminal (n): a type of crime that is not considered serious when compared with some other crimes | Dismiss (v): When a judge dismisses a court case, he or she formally stops the trial, often because there is not enough proof that someone is guilty |
| Manslaughter (n): the crime of killing a person when the killer did not intend to do it or cannot be responsible for his or her actions | Affray (n): a fight in a public place |
| Vandalize (v): to damage something, especially public property, deliberately and for no good reason | Abduct (v): to take somebody away illegally, especially using force |
| Hijacking (n): the use of violence or threats to take control of a vehicle, especially a plane, in order to force it to travel to a different place or to demand something from a government | Domestic violence (n): the situation in which someone you live with attacks you and tries to hurt you |
| Forge (v): to make an illegal copy of something in order to deceive | Assault (v): to attack somebody violently, especially when this is a crime |
5. The character of People
Every person has their personality, and every person has their appearance. However, if you keep using the same words like "bad" or "beautiful" repeatedly, it will be boring. So why don't you try using the following C2 vocabulary that PREP has compiled?
C2 level English words: Character of People | |
| Impetuous (adj): acting or done quickly and without thinking carefully about the results | Steadfast (adj): not changing in your attitudes or aims |
| Cynical (adj): believing that people only do things to help themselves rather than for good or honest reasons | Wilful (adj): (of a bad or harmful action) done deliberately, although the person doing it knows that it is wrong |
| Gregarious (adj): liking to be with other people | Stoic (adj): able to suffer pain or trouble without complaining or showing what you are feeling |
| Belligerent (adj): aggressive and unfriendly | Vociferous (adj): expressing your opinions or feelings in a loud and confident way |
| Erudite (adj): having or showing great knowledge that is gained from academic study | Wistful (adj): thinking sadly about something that you would like to have, especially something in the past that you can no longer have |
| Indolent (adj): not wanting to work | Scrupulous (adj): careful about paying attention to every detail |
| Dogmatic (adj): being certain that your beliefs are right and that others should accept them, without paying attention to evidence or other opinions | Sanguine (adj): cheerful and confident about the future |
| Affable (adj): pleasant, friendly and easy to talk to | Insolent (adj): extremely rude and showing a lack of respect |
| Aloof (adj): not friendly or interested in other people | Mendacious (adj): not telling the truth |
| Benevolent (adj): (especially of people in authority) kind, helpful and generous | mercurial (adj): often changing or reacting in a way that is unexpected |
| Capricious (adj): showing sudden changes in attitude or behaviour | Irascibility (n): the fact of tending to become angry very easily |
| Eccentric (adj): considered by other people to be strange or unusual | Pensive (adj): thinking deeply about something, especially because you are sad or worried |
| Patriarch (n): the male head of a family or community | Pernickety (n): worrying too much about details that are not important |
| Partisan (n): a person who strongly supports a particular leader, group or idea | Recalcitrant (n): unwilling to obey rules or follow instructions; difficult to control |
| Denizen (n): a person, an animal or a plant that lives, grows or is often found in a particular place | Sanguine (adj): cheerful and confident about the future |
| Mercenary (n): a soldier who will fight for any country or group that offers payment | Quixotic (adj): having or involving ideas or plans that show imagination but are usually not practical |
| Luminary (n): a person who is an expert or a great influence in a special area or activity | Self-righteous (adj): feeling or behaving as if what you say or do is always morally right, and other people are wrong |
| Subordinate (n): a person who has a position with less authority and power than somebody else in an organization | Brazen (adj): open and without shame, usually about something that shocks people |
| Villain (n): the main bad character in a story, play, etc. | Quarrelsome (adj): often arguing with other people |
| Proponent (n): a person who supports an idea or course of action | Truculence (n): angry or slightly aggressive behaviour that may cause an argument |
| Protagonist (n): the main character in a play, film or book | Meddlesome (adj): enjoying getting involved in situations that have nothing to do with them |
| Aristocrat (n): a member of the aristocracy | Clinging (n): needing another person too much |
| Vindictive (adj): showing a strong and unreasonable desire to harm or upset somebody because you think that they have harmed you | Remorse (n): the feeling of being extremely sorry for something wrong or bad that you have done |
| Audacity (n): behavior that is brave but likely to shock or offend people | |
6. Poverty and Social Issues
Famine is considered one of the most pressing social issues. PREP has provided you with a C2 vocabulary table on this topic below. Take a look and reference it right away!
C2 vocabulary: Poverty and Social issues | |
| Weather (v): to come safely through a difficult period or experience | Domestic violence (n): the situation in which someone you live with attacks you and tries to hurt you |
| Cast (v): to throw somebody/something somewhere, especially using force | Checkered history (n): the history of good and bad events |
| Scrounge (v): to get something from somebody by asking them for it rather than by paying or working for it | Emotional scar (n): the lasting effect of emotional trauma on the personality of the one who experienced it |
| Sponge (v): to wash somebody/ yourself/ something with a wet cloth or sponge | Illicit drug (n): An illicit drug is one that is illegal to have (for example, cannabis, heroin, and cocaine), and the non-medical use of drugs that are legally available such as pain killers and sleeping pills |
| Pilfer (v): to steal things of little value or in small quantities, especially from the place where you work | Parental guidance (n): (used to show that some scenes in a film may not be suitable for young children) |
| Illiteracy (n): the fact of being unable to read or write | Rough sleeping (n): the state of not having a home and sleeping outside, especially on the streets of a town or city |
| Innumeracy (n): a lack of ability to understand and use numbers in calculations | Substance abuse (n): the regular use of illegal or harmful drugs |
| Impoverished (adj): very poor | People tracking (n): the pursuit of a person by following tracks or marks they left behind |
| Emancipation (n): the act of freeing somebody, especially from legal, political or social controls that limit what they can do | Black market (n): an illegal form of trade in which foreign money, or goods that are difficult to obtain, are bought and sold |
| Privilege (n): a special right or advantage that a particular person or group of people has | Asylum (n): protection that a government gives to people who have left their own country, usually because they were in danger for political reasons |
| Preoccupy (v): if something is preoccupying you, you think or worry about it very often or all the time | Cosmopolitan (adj): containing people of different types or from different countries, and influenced by their culture |
| Intolerance (n): the fact of not being willing to accept ideas or ways of behaving that are different from your own | Surrogate (n): used to describe a person or thing that takes the place of, or is used instead of, somebody/something else |
| Unscrupulous (adj): without moral principles; not honest or fair | Tangible (adj): that can be clearly seen to exist |
| Extremism (n): political, religious, etc. ideas or actions that are extreme and not normal, reasonable or acceptable to most people | Oppression (n): cruel and unfair treatment of people, especially by not giving them the same freedom, rights, etc. as other people |
| Aspiration (n): a strong desire to have or do something | Malnutrition (n): a poor condition of health caused by a lack of food or a lack of the right type of food |
| Metropolis (n): a large, important city (often the capital city of a country or region) | Deprivation (n): the fact of not having something that you need, like enough food, money or a home; the process that causes this |
| Sanitation (n): the equipment and systems that keep places clean, especially by removing human waste | Deportation (n): the act of forcing somebody to leave a country, usually because they have broken the law or because they have no legal right to be there |
| Destitution (n): the fact of having no money, food and the other things necessary for life | Repercussion (n): an indirect and usually bad result of an action or event that may happen some time afterwards |
| Sustenance (n): the food and drink that people, animals and plants need to live and stay healthy | Starvation (n): the state in which somebody suffers or dies because they have no food |
| Inferiority (n): the state of not being as good as somebody/something else | Corruption (n): dishonest or illegal behaviour, especially of people in authority |
| Despotic (adj): connected with or typical of a leader with great power, especially one who uses it in a cruel way | Inequity (n): something that is unfair; the state of being unfair |
| Ostensible (adj): seeming or stated to be real or true, when this is perhaps not the case | Indigenous (adj): (of people and their culture) coming from a particular place and having lived there for a long time before other people came there; relating to, belonging to or developed by these people |
| Subservient (adj): too willing to obey other people | Financial aid (n): money that is given or lent to students at a university or college who cannot pay the full cost of their education |
| Squalor (n): dirty and unpleasant conditions | Rebel fighter (n): people who are fighting against their own country's army in order to change the political system there |
| Disheartening (adj): making you lose hope or confidence | Religious zealot (n): a person who has very strong feelings about something (such as religion or politics) and who wants other people to have those feelings |
| Indigence (n): the state of being very poor | Regime change (n): a complete change of government, especially one brought about by force |
| Mortality (n): the state of being human and not living forever | Racial tension (n): the degree to which community members resent or feel threatened by specific groups of people within the community based on |
| Culture clash (n): a situation in which the diverging attitudes, morals, opinions, or customs of two dissimilar cultures or subcultures are revealed | Physical infrastructure (n): the physical availability and quality of public facilities, including the number of facilities, facility amenities and resources, the distribution of facilities, and the appropriate mix of facility types to meet population health needs. |
7. Food, Travel and Holidays
In the below table, PREP brings you C2 vocabulary on the topics of Food, Travel, and Holiday. Quickly upgrade your vocabulary set!
C2 vocabulary: Food, Travel and Holidays | |
| Quaint (adj): attractive in an unusual or old-fashioned way | Salivary (adj): of or producing saliva |
| Subtle (adj): not very obvious or easy to notice | Devour (v): to eat all of something quickly, especially because you are very hungry |
| Elegant (adj): not very obvious or easy to notice | Simmer (v): to cook something by keeping it almost at boiling point; to be cooked in this way |
| Garish (adj): very brightly coloured in an unpleasant way | Gorge (v): to eat a lot of something, until you are too full to eat any more |
| Boisterous (adj): noisy and full of life and energy | Marinate (v): if you marinate food or it marinates, you leave it in a marinade before cooking it |
| Somber (adj): dark in colour | Munch (v): to eat something steadily and often noisily, especially something hard and/or dry |
| Cramped (adj): not having enough space or time | Scrumptious (adj): tasting extremely good |
| Cluttered (adj): untidy, not organized, and covered with a lot of things | Bountiful (adj): large in amount |
| Quirky (adj): an unusual habit or part of someone's personality, or something that is strange and unexpected | Tangy (adj): a strong, sharp taste or smell |
| Picturesque (adj): (especially of a place) attractive in appearance, especially in an old-fashioned way | Delectable (adj): looking or tasting extremely good, and giving great pleasure |
| Inconspicuous (adj): not easily or quickly noticed or seen, or not attracting attention | Starchy (adj): behaving in a formal way and without humour |
| Gaudy (adj): unpleasantly bright in color or decoration | Soggy (adj): (of things that can absorb water, especially food) unpleasantly wet and soft |
| Rowdy (adj): noisy and possibly violent | Curdle (v): when a liquid, especially milk, curdles or something curdles it, it separates into solid and liquid parts |
| Subdued (adj): unusually quiet, and possibly unhappy | Putrid (adj): decaying and therefore smelling very bad |
| Offbeat (adj): different from what most people expect | Satiate (v): to give somebody so much of something that they do not feel they want any more |
| Assortment (n): a collection of different things or of different types of the same thing | Amenity (n): a feature or service that makes a place pleasant, comfortable or easy to live in |
| Accompaniment (n): something that you eat, drink or use together with something else | Jaunt (n): a short journey that you make for pleasure |
| Casserole (n): a hot dish made with meat, vegetables, etc. that are cooked slowly in liquid in an oven | Junket (n): a trip or celebration that organized for government officials or business people and paid for by somebody else, especially using public money |
| Connoisseur (n): an expert on matters involving the judgment of beauty, quality or skill in art, food or music | Keepsake (n): a small object that somebody gives you so that you will remember them |
| Culinary (n): connected with cooking or food | Promenade (n): a public place for walking, usually a wide path next to the sea |
| Eatery (n): a restaurant or other place that serves food | Sabbatical (adj): a period of time when somebody, especially a teacher at a university, is allowed to stop their normal work in order to study or travel |
| Fusion (n): the process or result of joining two or more things together to form one | Hiatus (n): a break in activity when nothing happens |
| Inedible (adj): that you cannot eat because it is of poor quality, or poisonous | Regatta (n): a sporting event in which races between rowing boats or sailing boats are held |
8. Issues Facing Young People
What are the issues that young people are currently facing? This is a frequent topic in the IELTS Writing Task 2, and if you don't have a wide range of vocabulary for this topic, it will be difficult to achieve the target band score. In the below table, PREP has provided you with advanced vocabulary suggestions so that you can score high in the IELTS Writing Task 2!
C2 vocabulary: Issues Facing Young People | |
| Conspicuous (adj): easy to see or notice; likely to attract attention | Ostracize (v): to refuse to let somebody be a member of a social group; to refuse to meet or talk to somebody |
| Woes (n): the troubles and problems that somebody has | Exclude (v): to deliberately not include something in what you are doing or considering |
| Chasm (n): a deep opening or break in the ground | Compromising (adj): if something is compromising, it shows or tells people something that you want to keep secret, because it is wrong or embarrassing |
| Crisis (n): a time of great danger, difficulty or doubt when problems must be solved or important decisions must be made | Instill (v): to gradually put an idea or attitude into somebody's mind; to make somebody feel, think or behave in a particular way over a period of time |
| Amok (adj): to suddenly become very angry or excited and start behaving violently, especially in a public place | Exorbitant (n): much too high |
| Inept (adj): acting or done with no skill | Suburbia (n): the suburbs and the way of life, attitudes, etc. of the people who live there |
| Obstinate (adj): refusing to change your opinions, way of behaving, etc. when other people try to persuade you to; showing this | Revelation (n): a fact that people are made aware of, especially one that has been secret and is surprising |
| Promiscuous (adj): having many sexual partners | Proportion (n): a part or share of a whole |
| Unrealistic (adj): not showing or accepting things as they are | Deposit (n): a sum of money that is given as the first part of a larger payment |
| Pushy (adj): trying hard to get what you want, especially in a way that seems rude | Arrears (n): money that is owed and should already have been paid |
| Suicide (v): the act of killing yourself intentionally | Foreclosure (n): the action of taking back property that was bought with borrowed money because the money was not being paid back as formally agreed, or an example of this |
| Virtual (adj): almost a particular thing or quality | Repossession (n): the act of taking something back, or the thing that is taken back |
| Antisocial (adj): harmful to society | Plummet (v): to fall very quickly and suddenly |
| Sedentary (adj): involving little exercise or physical activity | Prudence (n): behaviour that is careful and avoids risks |
| Morbid (adj): too interested in unpleasant subjects, especially death | Calorie (n): a unit of energy, often used as a measurement of the amount of energy that food provides |
9. Medical and Health Issues
Health is always a matter of great concern to us. Do you know any C2 vocabulary related to this topic? Let's refer to the comprehensive set of advanced vocabulary provided by PREP!
C2 vocabulary: Issues Facing Young People | |
| Conspicuous (adj): very noticeable or attracting attention, often in a way that is not wanted. | Ostracize (v): to avoid someone intentionally, or to prevent someone from taking part in the activities of a group |
| Woes (n): extreme sadness | Exclude (v): to prevent someone or something from entering a place or taking part in an activity |
| Chasm (n): a very deep, narrow opening in rock, ice, or the ground | Compromising (adj): causing damage to the reputation of someone, especially making known that they have had a sexual relationship with someone who is considered unsuitable |
| Crisis (n): a time of great disagreement, confusion, or suffering | Instill (v): to put a feeling, idea, or principle gradually into someone's mind, so that it has a strong influence on the way that person thinks or behaves |
| Amok (adj): to suddenly become very angry or excited and start behaving violently, especially in a public place | Exorbitant (n): (of a price) much too high |
| Inept (adj): acting or done with no skill | Suburbia (n): the suburbs and the way of life, attitudes, etc. of the people who live there |
| Obstinate (adj): refusing to change your opinions, way of behaving, etc. when other people try to persuade you to; showing this | Revelation (n): a fact that people are made aware of, especially one that has been secret and is surprising |
| Promiscuous (adj): having many sexual partners | Proportion (n): a part or share of a whole |
| Unrealistic (adj): not showing or accepting things as they are | Deposit (n): a sum of money that is given as the first part of a larger payment |
| Pushy (adj): trying hard to get what you want, especially in a way that seems rude | Arrears (n): money that is owed and should already have been paid |
| Suicide (v): the act of killing yourself intentionally | Foreclosure (n): the action of taking back property that was bought with borrowed money because the money was not being paid back as formally agreed, or an example of this |
| Virtual (adj): almost a particular thing or quality | Repossession (n): the act of taking something back, or the thing that is taken back |
| Antisocial (adj): harmful to society | Plummet (v): to fall very quickly and suddenly |
| Sedentary (adj): involving little exercise or physical activity | Prudence (n): behaviour that is careful and avoids risks |
| Morbid (adj): too interested in unpleasant subjects, especially death | Calorie (n): a unit of energy, often used as a measurement of the amount of energy that food provides |
10. The Entertainment industry and the Mass Media
Social media and the entertainment industry are increasingly developing. To keep up with the trends, you need to stay updated with daily news and knowledge. Below, PREP has collected advanced C2 vocabulary for the fields of social media and entertainment!
C2 vocabulary: The Entertainment industry and the Mass Media | |
| Ratings (n): a measurement of how good, popular, important, etc. somebody/something is, especially in relation to other people or things | Feature film (n): a main film with a story, rather than a documentary, etc. |
| Demographics (n): data relating to the population and different groups within it | Opening night (n): the first night that, for example, a play is performed or a film is shown to the public |
| viewers (n): a person watching television or a video on the internet | General release (n): If a film is on general release, it is available to be shown in cinemas |
| Penetrating (adj): showing a very good understanding | Movie premiere (n): the first public performance of a new movie |
| Subscription (n): an amount of money that you pay regularly to receive a service, be a member of a club, support a charity or receive regular copies of a newspaper or magazine; the act of paying this money | Release date (n): a fixed date on which a product is due to become available for the public to see or buy |
| Merchandise (n): goods that are bought or sold; goods that are for sale in a shop | Ensemble cast (n): an ensemble cast is one that comprises many principal actors and performers who are typically assigned roughly equal amounts of screen time |
| Circulation (n): the passing or spreading of something from one person or place to another | Leading lady (n): the actor with the main female part in a play or film |
| Soundbites (n): a short sentence or phrase that is easy to remember, often included in a speech made by a politician and repeated in newspapers and on television and radio | Critical reception (n): The degree to which an artistic work such as a song, movie, book, or video game has been received by critics |
| Anticlimactic (adj): used to describe a situation that is disappointing because it happens at the end of something that was much more exciting, or because it is not as exciting as you expected | Enrapturing (adj): to give somebody great pleasure or joy |
| Cliffhanger (n): a situation in a story, film, competition, etc. that is very exciting because you cannot guess what will happen next, or you do not find out immediately what happens next | Gripping (adj): exciting or interesting in a way that keeps your attention |
| Tearjerker (n):a film, story, etc. that is designed to make people feel sad | Nail biting (adj): making you feel very excited or anxious because you do not know what is going to happen |
| Acclaim (n): to praise or welcome somebody/something publicly | Harrowing (adj): making you feel very upset because you are very shocked or frightened |
| Abysmal (adj): extremely bad or of a very low standard | Enigmatic (adj): mysterious and difficult to understand |
| Interweave (v): to twist together two or more pieces of thread, wool, etc. | Intoxicating (adj): that can cause somebody to lose control of their behaviour or their physical and mental abilities |
| Compelling (adj): that makes you pay attention to it because it is so interesting and exciting | Visceral (adj): resulting from strong feelings rather than careful thought |
| Consensus (n): an opinion that all members of a group agree with | Buoyant (adj): (of prices, business activity, etc.) tending to increase or stay at a high level, usually showing financial success |
| Frenetic (adj): involving a lot of energy and activity in a way that is not organized | Unapologetic (adj): not saying that you are sorry about something, even in situations in which other people might expect you to |
| Suspense (n): a feeling of worry or excitement that you have when you feel that something is going to happen, somebody is going to tell you some news, etc. | Pretentious (adj): trying to appear important, intelligent, etc. in order to impress other people; trying to be something that you are not, in order to impress |
| Riveting (adj): so interesting or exciting that it holds your attention completely | Insipid (adj): not interesting or exciting |
| Spellbinding (adj): holding your attention completely | Wearisome (adj): that makes you feel very bored and tired |
| Enthralling (adj): so interesting, beautiful, etc. that it attracts all your attention | Absorbing (adj): interesting and fun and holding your attention completely |
11. Environmental issues and the Natural World
Finally, Environmental issues and the Natural World is an essential topic in the vocabulary. Let's explore it with PREP in the field of environment and the natural world!
C2 vocabulary: Environmental issues and the Natural World | |
| two-tiered society (n): a system that is not the same for all groups of people, and gives more advantages to one group than to another group | Innate (adj): that you have when you are born |
| Resource-rich countries (n): country that exports of non-renewable natural resources such as oil, minerals and metals account for more than 25 % of the value of the country's total exports | Conscience (n): the part of your mind that tells you whether your actions are right or wrong |
| blood diamond (n): a diamond that has not been shaped by cutting and that is sold illegally to provide money for an armed conflict | Ecosystem (n): all the plants and living creatures in a particular area considered in relation to their physical environment |
| corrupt administration (n): Someone who is corrupt behaves in a way that is morally wrong, especially by doing dishonest or illegal things in return for money or power | Cultivation (n): the preparation and use of land for growing plants or crops |
| the general populace (n): all the ordinary people of a particular country or area | Swathe (n): a long piece of land, especially one on which the plants or crops have been cut |
| carbon footprint (n): a measure of the amount of carbon dioxide that is produced by the activities of a person or company | Deforestation (n): the act of cutting down or burning the trees in an area |
| the greater good (n): The benefit of the public, of more people than oneself | Desertification (n): the process of becoming or making something a desert |
| tacit approval (n): If you refer to someone's tacit agreement or approval, you mean they are agreeing to something or approving it without actually saying so, often because they are unwilling to admit to doing so | Agrarian (adj): connected with farming and the use of land for farming |
| shady deal (n): dishonest or illegal activities | Arid (adj): having little or no rain; very dry |
| irrevocable harm (n): legal term that refers to harm or injury that cannot be adequately compensated or remedied by any monetary award or damages that may be awarded later | Absorption (n): the process of a liquid, gas or other substance being taken in |
| confront (v): (of problems or a difficult situation) to appear and need to be dealt with by somebody | Conducive (v): making it easy, possible or likely for something to happen |
| Maximize (v): to increase something as much as possible | Inhospitable (adj): difficult to stay or live in, especially because there is no shelter from the weather |
| Fundamental (adj): serious and very important; affecting the most central and important parts of something | Depletion (n): the reduction of something by a large amount so that there is not enough left |
| Essence (n): the most important quality or feature of something, that makes it what it is | Abundance (n): a large quantity that is more than enough |
| Differentiate (v): to recognize or show that two things are not the same | Recognition (n): the act of remembering who somebody is when you see them, or of identifying what something is |
| Embarrass (v): to make somebody feel shy, uncomfortable or ashamed, especially in a social situation | |
See more articles:
- A complete and accurate collection of A2 vocabulary
- A complete and accurate collection of B1 vocabulary by topic
- A complete collection of English A1 vocabulary organized by topic
- A collection of C1 vocabulary by common topic
II. Download the PDF file for an effective C2-level English vocabulary learning book
In addition to reviewing the vocabulary provided by PREP above, you can also refer to the following C2-level English vocabulary book. Besides vocabulary, the book also includes various exercises for you to practice every day. Please download the book and study diligently.
III. Exercises on C2 vocabulary
Exercise: Fill in the blanks with the appropriate words in the box:
Confronted, maximize, fundamental, essence, differentiate, recognition, embarrassed |
- Sarah was ________ by her colleagues about the mistakes she had made on the project, and she had to take responsibility for her actions.
- The company implemented a new strategy to ________ their profits by optimizing their production processes and increasing sales.
- Learning basic arithmetic skills is ________ to build a strong foundation in mathematics.
- The ________ of a good novel lies in its ability to transport readers to different worlds and evoke deep emotions.
- The new smartphone model was designed with unique features to ________ it from its competitors in the market.
- After years of hard work, Jane finally received ________ for her contributions to the field of scientific research.
- John tripped and spilled his coffee in front of his colleagues, feeling ________ by his clumsiness.
Answer key:
- confronted
- maximize
- fundamental
- essence
- differentiate
- recognition
- embarrassed
Hopefully, all the C2-level English vocabulary provided by PREP will help you quickly expand your vocabulary and apply it effectively in communication, as well as achieve high scores in English exams. Wishing you success!
Master Tu Pham
Founder/CEO at Prep
Mr. Tú Phạm is the founder of PREP, a Smart Test Preparation Platform. With over 10 years of teaching and test preparation experience, he has assisted thousands of students in achieving high scores on the IELTS exam. Additionally, Mr. Tú Phạm serves as a consultant for British Council programs and as a speaker at numerous premier education events, programs, and seminars.
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