Word sets: Business English194 words
- shipmentB2nouna quantity of goods sent to a place, or the act of sending them
- straightforwardB2adjectiveeasy to understand or do, without problems; also honest and direct
- handfulB2nouna small number of people or things; or the amount you can hold in one hand
- loyalB1adjectivealways supporting a person, group or company and not changing to another
- layoutB2nounthe way the parts of something are arranged, such as a room, page or website
- unchangedB2adjectivestaying the same as before, not different in any way
- queueB2verbto wait in a line of people or vehicles until it is your turn
- bidderC1nouna person or company that offers a price for something, especially at an auction or for a contract
- respectiveC1adjectivebelonging separately to each of the people or things you have just mentioned
- deliverableC1nounsomething specific that you must produce and give to a client or manager as part of a project
- depictC1verbto show or describe someone or something in a picture, film or piece of writing
- oddsB2nounhow likely it is that something will happen; also the ratio used to show chances in betting
- subscriberB2nouna person who pays to receive a service, magazine or regular updates
- lifetimeB2nounthe length of time that someone lives or that something lasts
- allegationC1nouna public statement, not yet proved, that someone has done something wrong or illegal
- redemptionC2nounthe act of paying back a debt or bond; also being saved from failure or sin
- downwardB1adjectivemoving or pointing toward a lower place, level or amount
- gridB2nounthe network of wires and cables that carries electricity across a country or region
- newsletterB1nouna short report of news and events sent regularly to members of a group or customers
- meaningfulB2adjectiveimportant, useful or serious, often in a way that makes you feel something
- depreciateC1verbto lose value over time, or to record that something has lost value in the accounts
- interfaceB2nounthe way a person or program connects to a computer system, such as the screen and buttons you use
- digitB2nounany of the numbers from 0 to 9, used to write bigger numbers
- convenientB1adjectiveeasy to use or suitable for your plans, so it saves you time or trouble
- hybridB2adjectivemade by mixing two different things, such as two types of power, plants or ways of working
- fosterC1verbto help a feeling, skill or idea develop over time; also to care for another person's child
- provokeC1verbto cause a strong reaction, especially anger; also to annoy someone on purpose so they react
- inevitablyB2adverbin a way that cannot be avoided or stopped
- shopperB1nouna person who is buying things in a shop or online
- dilemmaB2nouna difficult situation where you have to choose between two things, and both choices have problems
- secularC2adjectivenot connected with religion or a church
- ceaseB2verbto stop happening or stop doing something, especially after a long time
- distressB2nouna strong feeling of worry, pain or sadness, or a situation of great danger or difficulty
- withholdC1verbto refuse to give something, or to keep information or money back on purpose
- sterlingC1nounthe official money of the United Kingdom, usually called the pound
- legacyC1nounsomething from the past that still has an effect, or that a person leaves for those who come after
- thriveB2verbto grow, develop or be successful and healthy
- autonomyC1nounthe freedom to make your own decisions without being controlled by others
- commanderB2nouna person who is in charge of a military group, ship or operation
- tollB2nounmoney you pay to use a road or bridge; also the deaths or damage that something causes
- accountabilityC2nounthe fact of being responsible for your decisions and actions and having to explain them
- incorporationC1nounthe act of including something as part of a larger whole; also, the legal act of forming a company
- equipB2verbto provide someone or something with the things needed for a task or activity
- essenceB2nounthe most important quality or basic nature of something
- prescriptionB2nouna doctor's written order that lets you buy a particular medicine
- terminationC1nounthe act of ending something, such as a contract or a job
- invasionB1nounwhen an army enters another country by force to take control of it
- unveilB2verbto show or announce something new to the public for the first time
- intrinsicC2adjectivebelonging to the basic nature of something, rather than coming from outside
- translationB2nounthe act of changing words into another language, or a text that has been changed in this way
- computationC1nounthe process of using numbers or a computer to find an answer; the answer you get
- diplomaticB2adjectiveconnected with relations between countries, or careful not to upset people when you speak
- advisoryC1adjectivegiving advice only, without the power to make final decisions
- batteryC1nouna device that stores and supplies electricity; also a large group of similar things, like tests
- modificationB2nouna small change made to something to improve it or make it suitable
- conveyB1verbto make an idea, feeling or piece of information clear to other people
- customizeB2verbto change something so that it suits a particular person or purpose
- ingredientB1nounone of the foods you mix together to make a dish; also one part of something successful
- formerlyB2adverbin the past, before now
- optimizationC1nounthe process of making something as good or effective as possible
- tonB2nouna unit for measuring weight, about 1,000 kilograms; also, informally, a very large amount
- spectrumB2nouna full range of different opinions, qualities or things, from one extreme to the other
- magnitudeC1nounthe great size or importance of something; also the strength of an earthquake
- theftB1nounthe crime of taking something that belongs to someone else
- validityC1nounthe quality of being based on truth or reason, or of being officially acceptable
- interactB1verbto communicate with, work with or affect each other
- gallonB1nouna unit for measuring liquid: about 3.8 liters in the US and 4.5 liters in the UK
- considerablyB2adverbby a large amount; much
- interveneB2verbto step into a situation on purpose to change what is happening or stop it
- repertoireB2nounall the songs, plays or skills that a performer or person is able to do
- haltB2nouna stop, especially a short or sudden one, in movement or activity
- nicheC1nouna small, special part of a market; also a job or activity that suits you perfectly
- shedB2nouna small simple building, usually made of wood, used for storing tools or keeping animals
- motiveB2nouna reason for doing something, especially one that is hidden
- wherebyC1adverbby which; through which, used to explain how a system or process works
- medianC1nounthe middle value in a list of numbers arranged from smallest to largest
- whollyC2adverbcompletely; to the full degree
- supposedlyC1adverbaccording to what people say or believe, although you may doubt that it is true
- crudeC1adjectivein a natural state and not yet treated; also simple and not made with much skill
- commissionerC1nouna senior official in charge of a government department or a sports league, or a member of a commission
- sufficientlyB2adverbas much as is needed for a particular purpose
- protocolB2nounan official set of rules for how to do something or how to behave in a situation
- constrainC1verbto limit what someone or something can do or how much can happen
- installationB2nounthe act of putting a machine or program in place so that it is ready to use
- publicityB2nounattention from the media and the public, or the work of getting that attention
- embedC2verbto fix something firmly inside a material or a larger system
- legislatureB2nounthe group of elected people in a country or state who debate and pass laws
- steerB2verbto control the direction of a vehicle or boat, or to guide a conversation or person
- beneficialB2adjectivehaving a good effect or helping someone or something
- punishB1verbto make someone suffer because they have done something wrong or broken a rule
- predictableB2adjectivehappening or behaving in a way you expect; sometimes boring because there are no surprises
- liquidationC1nounthe process of closing a business and selling its assets to pay its debts
- chaosB2nouna situation with no order, where everything is confused
- tailorC1verbto make or change something so that it suits a particular person or purpose
- impairmentC1nouna condition in which part of the body or mind does not work fully
- harvestC1verbto gather crops when they are ready; to collect something useful from a natural source
- insertB2verbto put something inside another thing or between things
- residentialB2adjectiveused for people to live in, rather than for business or industry
- electricalB1adjectiveusing, producing or connected with electricity
- fluctuateC2verbto change often between higher and lower levels or amounts
- migrantB2nouna person who moves to another place or country, usually to find work or a better life
- objectionB2nouna reason why you do not like or agree with something, or a statement of this
- macroeconomicsC1nounthe study of a whole economy, including inflation, unemployment and economic growth
- accommodateB2verbto have enough space for people or things, or to change plans to suit someone
- preliminaryB2adjectivecoming before the main part of something, often to prepare for it
- refundB1nounmoney that is given back to you, for example when you return something you bought
- accrualC1nounthe gradual growth or build-up of money, interest or benefits over time
- confrontB2verbto face a difficult person or problem and deal with it directly
- punishmentB1nounsomething unpleasant that is done to a person because they have broken a law or rule
- passiveB2adjectiveaccepting what happens without taking action or showing strong feeling
- conditionalC1adjectivedepending on something else happening or being done first
- orientationB2nouna program that helps newcomers get to know a school or workplace; also a person's basic leanings or interests
- disposeC1verbto get rid of something you no longer want or need (used with of)
- scrutinyC1nouncareful and detailed examination, especially by the public, the media or officials
- accordinglyB2adverbin a way that suits what has just been said or what is happening; also, for that reason
- exileB2nounthe state of being forced to live away from your own country, often for political reasons
- prescribeB2verbto officially say which medicine or treatment someone should have, or what rules must be followed
- inherentC1adjectiveexisting as a basic, natural part of something, so that it cannot be removed
- explicitlyC1adverbclearly and directly, so that the meaning is not in doubt
- steadilyB1adverbin a regular, continuous way, without sudden changes
- paybackC1nouna return of money spent, or something bad done to someone in return for a harm
- sacrificeC1nounsomething valuable that you give up in order to get something more important
- feasibleC1adjectivepossible to do or achieve, and likely to work in practice
- convictionC1nouna strong belief; also an official decision in court that someone is guilty of a crime
- continuouslyB1adverbwithout stopping or any break
- junkB1nounold or useless things that have no value
- leakB2verb(of a pipe or container) to let liquid or gas escape through a hole; (of liquid or gas) to escape
- tierB2nounone of several levels or layers in a system, organization or set of prices
- transparencyC1nounan honest and open way of working, so that people can see how decisions are made and money is spent
- inadequateB2adjectivenot good enough or not enough for a particular purpose
- acreC1nouna unit for measuring land, equal to about 4,047 square meters
- levyC1nounan amount of money, such as a tax, that people or companies must pay
- freelyB2adverbwithout being controlled or limited; also openly and honestly
- relianceC1nounthe state of depending on someone or something to do what you need
- officiallyB1adverbin a way that is approved or announced by someone in authority
- prosecuteB2verbto officially accuse someone of a crime in court and try to prove they are guilty
- convictC1verbto officially decide in a court of law that someone is guilty of a crime
- procurementC1nounthe process of getting goods or services, especially for a company or government
- clashB2verbto fight or disagree strongly, or to happen at the same time so you cannot do both
- deterC1verbto make someone decide not to do something, often by showing risks or consequences
- prosecutionC1nounthe process of charging someone with a crime in court, or the lawyers who do this
- nastyB1adjectivevery unpleasant, unkind or bad
- condemnB2verbto say very strongly that something is wrong, or to sentence someone to a punishment
- frustrateB2verbto make someone feel annoyed or helpless because they cannot do or change what they want
- privatizeC1verbto sell a business or service owned by the government to private owners
- endureC1verbto suffer something painful or difficult for a long time without giving up
- doctrineC1nouna set of beliefs or principles taught by a religion, political party or other group
- distortB2verbto change the shape, sound or meaning of something so that it is no longer true or clear
- tripleB2adjectivemade of three parts, or three times as big or as many as usual
- textileC1nouncloth or fabric made by weaving or knitting, especially when it is made in large amounts
- manipulateB2verbto control or influence someone or something in a clever, often unfair way; also to handle something skillfully
- unityB2nounthe state of being joined together as one, or of people agreeing and working together
- refineC1verbto improve something by making small changes, or to remove impurities from a substance
- implicitC1adjectivesuggested or understood without being said directly; also complete and without doubt
- deflationC1nouna fall in the general level of prices in a country, so money buys more
- practitionerC2nounsomeone who works in a skilled job such as medicine or law, or who regularly does a particular activity
- prosperityC1nounthe state of being successful and having plenty of money
- riotB2nouna violent protest by a crowd in a public place
- caterB2verbto provide food and drink for an event, or to give people what they need
- drillC1verbto make a hole in something with a tool or machine that turns
- alignC1verbto put things in a straight line or correct position; also to make plans or ideas agree with each other
- reinvestB2verbto put the money you earn from an investment or business back into it
- remainderC1nounthe part that is left after the rest has gone or been used; in maths, what is left after dividing
- provincialC2adjectiveconnected with a province or areas outside the capital; also old-fashioned and narrow in outlook
- puzzleC1verbto make someone confused because they cannot understand or explain something
- alertB2verbto warn someone about a danger or problem, or tell them about something important
- concedeB2verbto admit, often unwillingly, that something is true or that the other side has a point
- advertiserB2nouna person or company that pays to promote products or services
- plannerB2nouna person whose job is to plan how towns, buildings or events are organized
- alikeB2adjectivevery similar to each other
- controversyB2nouna lot of public disagreement or argument about something
- unusuallyB1adverbto a degree that is different from what is normal or expected
- fierceB2adjectivevery strong, angry or aggressive, in a way that can be frightening
- vetoC1nounthe official power to stop a law or decision by refusing to approve it
- ceasefireB2nounan agreement between two sides to stop fighting for a period of time
- handsetB2nounthe part of a telephone you hold to your ear, or a cell phone as a piece of equipment
- sentimentC1nounan opinion or feeling about something, especially one shared by many people
- economicallyB2adverbin a way that relates to money, trade and the economy, or that saves money
- combatC1nounfighting, especially between armies in a war
- parityC1nouna state of being equal, especially in pay, status or power
- notifyB2verbto officially tell someone about something, usually so they can act on it
- centralizeB2verbto bring power, control or activities under one central place or authority
- sovereignC1adjectivehaving full power to govern itself, with no control from another country
- estimationC1nounyour opinion or judgment of something; also the process of calculating a rough amount or value
- clarifyB2verbto make something easier to understand by explaining it more clearly
- lucrativeB2adjectivemaking a lot of money
- stabilizeC2verbto become steady, or to make something steady, so it stops changing or moving
- repeatedlyB1adverbmany times, again and again
- moleculeB1nounthe smallest unit of a substance, made of two or more atoms joined together
- striveB2verbto try very hard to achieve something, often for a long time
- cureB2verbto make a sick person healthy again, or to end an illness or problem
- bribeC1nounmoney or a gift given dishonestly to persuade someone, often an official, to help you
- evidentB1adjectiveeasy to see or understand; clear from the facts
- cautionB2noungreat care to avoid danger or mistakes, or a warning to be careful
Word list: Business Service List 1.2 (Browne & Culligan), CC BY-SA 4.0. Only words with a full Gloss page are included, in the list’s order.