Word sets: Business English193 words
- reservationB1nounan arrangement to keep a table, room or seat for you; also a doubt about something
- enactC1verbto make a proposal into an official law
- controllerB2nouna person or device that directs or manages something, such as air traffic or a video game
- bankruptB2adjectiveunable to pay your debts, so that a court takes control of your money and property
- shieldB2nounsomething that protects a person or thing from harm, danger or an unpleasant effect
- pactB2nouna formal agreement between people, groups or countries to do something or support each other
- discretionC1nounthe freedom to decide what to do, or the care not to reveal private matters
- cautiousB2adjectivecareful to avoid danger or problems, and not taking risks
- supervisionB2nounthe act of watching and directing people or work to make sure everything is done properly
- dictateC1verbto say exactly what must be done, to control how something happens, or to read aloud for writing
- purelyB2adverbonly, and not involving anything else
- substitutionB2nounthe act of using one person or thing in place of another
- pursuitB2nounthe act of trying to achieve something or catch someone, or an activity you do for pleasure
- minimalB2adjectivevery small in amount or degree, the smallest possible or acceptable
- eagerB2adjectivewanting very much to do or have something, often with excitement
- seasonalB2adjectivehappening or needed only at a particular time of year
- instituteC1verbto officially start a system, rule, process or legal action
- endowmentC1nouna large gift of money given to an institution to provide a regular income
- suburbB2nounan area where people live on the edge of a city, away from the center
- disabilityB1nouna physical or mental condition that makes some everyday activities difficult
- governmentalB2adjectiverelating to a government or the way a country is officially run
- inefficientB2adjectivewasting time, money or energy instead of using it well
- partiallyB2adverbnot completely, but to some degree
- competenceB2nounthe ability to do something well or to the required standard
- closureB2nounthe closing of a place or business, for good or for a time; also a feeling that something has ended
- slashB2nounthe symbol / used in writing; also a long cut made with something sharp
- overlookB2verbto fail to notice or consider something; also to have a view of a place from above
- logisticsB2nounthe planning and organizing of how goods, people or equipment are moved and stored
- scarceB2adjectivenot available in large enough amounts; hard to find
- fleetB2nouna group of ships, or a group of vehicles owned by one company
- restraintC1nouncalm control over your actions or feelings, or a rule or limit that controls what people may do
- followerB2nouna person who supports or admires a leader, belief or person, including online
- tortureB2verbto cause someone great pain, on purpose, to punish them or make them give information
- crunchB2verbto make a loud breaking sound by chewing or stepping on something hard
- certifyB2verbto officially say in writing that something is true, correct or meets a standard
- receiverB2nouna device that picks up radio or TV signals, the handset of a phone, or someone who receives something
- collaborationC1nounworking together with others; also, helping an enemy that has taken control of your country
- logoB1nouna small design or symbol that a company or group uses to show who it is
- overlapB2nounthe part or amount that two things, ideas or periods of time share
- resumeB2verbto start again after a pause or interruption
- encyclopediaB1nouna book or website with articles on many subjects, or on one subject in detail
- lumpB2nouna solid piece of something with no regular shape; also a hard swelling on the body
- momentumB2nounthe force or speed that keeps something moving or developing once it has started
- probeB2nouna careful investigation into something; also a spacecraft or tool sent to collect information
- aversionC1nouna strong dislike of something, or a wish to avoid it
- reconcileC2verbto find a way for ideas or facts that seem opposed to exist together; also to make peace again
- indirectlyB1adverbnot in a straight or open way; through another person, thing or step
- mandatoryB2adjectiverequired by a rule or law, so you must do it
- namelyB2adverbused to introduce more exact details about something you have just mentioned
- temporarilyB2adverbfor a short time only, not permanently
- decentB2adjectivegood enough or of an acceptable standard; also honest and behaving in a good way
- reassureC1verbto say or do something to make someone feel less worried or afraid
- appetiteB2nounthe feeling that you want to eat; also a strong wish to have or do something
- tobaccoB1nouna plant whose dried leaves are smoked in cigarettes, cigars and pipes
- unpopularB2adjectivenot liked by many people
- confineB2verbto keep something within limits, or to keep someone in a small space they cannot leave
- consultationC1nouna meeting or discussion to get advice, or to hear people's opinions before deciding something
- quantifyB2verbto measure something or express it as a number or amount
- recruitmentC1nounthe process of finding and hiring new people to work for an organization
- ceilingB2nounthe inside surface at the top of a room
- persistB2verbto continue to exist or happen, or to keep doing something despite difficulty or opposition
- gaugeC1nouna tool that measures an amount; something that helps you judge a situation or opinion
- plugB1nounthe part at the end of a wire that you push into the wall for electricity
- skepticalB2adjectivedoubting that something is true or good, and wanting more proof
- legislativeB2adjectiverelating to the work of creating new laws, or to the group of people who do this
- independentlyB2adverbwithout help or control from other people; also separately, without being connected
- negligenceC1nounfailure to take proper care, which causes harm or damage
- architectB1nouna person whose job is to design buildings; also the person who plans an idea
- redeemB2verbto exchange a coupon or voucher for goods, money or a service
- tribunalC1nouna special court or committee that settles a particular kind of dispute or problem
- probableB2adjectivelikely to be true or to happen
- chunkB2nouna thick, solid piece of something; also a large part of something
- proprietaryC2adjectiveowned by a particular company and protected so that others cannot legally copy or sell it
- iconB2nouna small picture on a screen that you click; or a very famous person seen as a symbol
- intermediateB1adjectiveat a middle level, between beginner and advanced, or between two stages
- steepB1adjective(of a slope or road) rising or falling sharply; (of a rise or fall) large and sudden
- conformC1verbto follow the rules or behave the way most people expect; also to meet an official standard
- acidB2nouna chemical substance, often a liquid, that can burn or dissolve things; lemons contain a weak kind
- safeguardC1nouna rule, law or action that protects people or things from harm or loss
- loomC1verbto seem likely to happen soon, especially something worrying; or to appear as a large, threatening shape
- deductibleC1adjectiveable to be taken away from the amount of tax you must pay
- postponeB2verbto move an event or action to a later time than planned
- conceptualC1adjectiverelating to ideas or concepts rather than to real, physical things
- assaultB2nouna violent attack on a person; also a military attack, or strong criticism
- optimismB2nounthe feeling that good things will happen and that the future will be successful
- painfulB1adjectivecausing physical pain, or making you feel sad or upset
- factionC1nouna small group inside a larger group, especially a political party, that disagrees with the rest
- forgeC1verbto build or develop something, such as a strong relationship, with effort
- freightC1noungoods carried by trucks, trains, ships or planes, or the system of carrying them
- rigC1nouna large structure with equipment, used for drilling for oil or gas, especially at sea
- accountableC1adjectiveresponsible for your decisions and actions and expected to explain them to others
- superB1adverbvery or extremely
- abolishB2verbto officially end a law, system or practice
- inheritB2verbto receive money or property from someone who has died, or to receive a situation from a predecessor
- forumB2nouna place, meeting or website where people discuss a subject of shared interest
- superviseB2verbto watch and direct people or an activity to make sure it is done correctly and safely
- overnightB1adjectivelasting or happening through the night
- revisionB1nouna change made to improve or correct something; in British English, also studying again before an exam
- analyticalB2adjectiveusing careful reasoning and examination of details to understand something or solve a problem
- necessityB2nounsomething you need; also the fact that something must happen or be done
- fiberB2nounthe part of plant food that helps digestion; also a thin thread of material
- stallB1nouna small table or open booth where goods are sold, especially in a market
- exclusivelyB2adverbonly, and not including anyone or anything else
- awaitB2verbto wait for something that is going to happen or arrive
- lureC1verbto attract someone to go somewhere or do something, often by promising something good
- desperateB1adjectiveneeding or wanting something very much, or so worried that you will try anything
- populistC1nouna politician who says they support the interests of ordinary people against the elite
- similarityB1nounthe state of being alike, or a way in which things are alike
- contemplateC1verbto think about something for a long time, or to consider doing something
- sociallyB1adverbin a way that is connected with society or with meeting other people
- admissionB2nounbeing allowed to enter a place, join a school or stay in hospital; also the cost of entry
- raidB2nouna sudden visit by police or officials to search a place and catch people breaking the law
- diplomacyC1nounthe work of managing relations between countries; also the ability to handle difficult people without upsetting them
- liquidateC1verbto close a company and sell what it owns to pay its debts, or to sell assets for cash
- rocketB2nouna vehicle shaped like a tube that flies into space; also a weapon or firework that shoots into the air
- collarB1nounthe part of a shirt or coat that goes around your neck; also a band around an animal's neck
- outperformB2verbto do better than another person, company or investment
- irrelevantB2adjectivenot connected with or important to what is being discussed
- optimizeC1verbto make something as good or as effective as it can be
- promotionalB2adjectiveconnected with advertising a product, event or idea to make people want it
- broadbandB2nouna fast internet connection that can carry a lot of data
- reactorC1nouna large machine that produces nuclear energy, especially to make electricity
- travelerB1nouna person who is making a journey, especially a long one to different places
- equalityB2nounthe situation in which all people have the same rights, chances and treatment
- entailC1verbto involve something as a necessary part or result
- compileB2verbto collect information from different places and put it together in a list or report
- circulationC1nounthe number of copies of a newspaper or magazine sold; also the movement of something around a system
- petitionC1verbto make a formal request to an authority, often with many signatures
- attributableC1adjectiveable to be explained by a particular cause, or said to be made by a particular person
- revolutionaryB2nouna person who fights for or takes part in a political revolution
- discretionaryC1adjectivedecided by a person or group as they choose, not fixed by a rule
- reconciliationC2nounthe process of becoming friendly again after a conflict or a serious disagreement
- directiveC1nounan official order or instruction from an authority that must be followed
- mutuallyC1adverbin a way that is shared by or affects two or more people or groups equally
- viableC1adjectiveable to work successfully, or able to make enough money to continue
- refusalB2nounthe act of saying no to something, such as a request or an offer
- outfitB2nouna set of clothes that you wear together, often for a special occasion
- approximateB2adjectiveclose to an exact number or amount but not completely correct
- geographicB2adjectiverelating to the physical features and location of a place
- consortiumC1nouna group of companies or organizations that work together on a large project
- speculativeC1adjectivebased on guesses, not facts; also done to make quick money, but with a high risk
- historicallyB2adverbin relation to history, or looking at how things were in the past
- resembleC1verbto look like or be similar to another person or thing
- amortizeC2verbto pay off a debt gradually in regular payments, or to spread a cost over several years in accounts
- explorationB1nounthe act of traveling through an unknown place to learn about it, or of examining an idea carefully
- deliberatelyB2adverbon purpose, not by accident; also slowly and carefully
- millB2nouna building with machines for making a product such as flour, paper or cloth
- loserB2nounsomeone who people think is not successful or not cool; also a person who loses a game
- subjectiveC1adjectivebased on personal feelings, tastes or opinions rather than facts
- builderB1nouna person whose job is to build or repair houses and other buildings
- mainlandB2nounthe main area of land of a country, not including nearby islands
- retreatB2verbto move back or away from a place or person, often because of danger; to go somewhere quiet
- backwardB2adverbtoward the direction behind you, or in the opposite order from usual
- ambassadorB2nounan official who represents his or her country in another country
- overwhelmB1verbto affect someone so strongly that they cannot think or cope, or to defeat them completely
- consistencyB2nounthe quality of always behaving or performing in the same way, or of having parts that agree
- unprecedentedC1adjectivenever having happened or existed before; without any earlier example
- declarationB2nounan official or public statement that something is true or will happen
- rebateB2nounmoney paid back to you after you have paid, for example after buying a product or paying tax
- retentionC1nounthe keeping of something, such as facts in memory or students and staff in an organization
- harshB2adjectivevery strict, severe or unpleasant, with no kindness or comfort
- contendC1verbto state firmly that something is true in an argument; also to deal with a difficulty
- jointlyC1adverbtogether with another person or group, sharing ownership or responsibility
- resignationB2nounthe act of leaving a job or position, or calm acceptance of something bad you cannot change
- promptlyB2adverbimmediately or without delay, or exactly at the stated time
- removalB2nounthe act of taking something or someone away from a place or position
- exclusionB2nounthe act of keeping someone or something out, or not allowing them to take part
- bomberB2nounan aircraft that drops bombs, or a person who sets off a bomb
- occurrenceB2nounsomething that happens, or the fact or frequency of something happening
- exceptionalB2adjectivemuch better than usual; also very unusual and not likely to happen often
- viewerB2nouna person who watches television, a video or a show, or looks at something
- spurB2nounsomething that encourages a person or activity to develop or happen faster
- hazardB2nounsomething that may cause danger, damage or harm
- packetB2nouna small paper or plastic container with things inside, especially food
- omitC1verbto leave something out, either by accident or on purpose
- consciousB1adjectivenoticing or aware of something; also awake and able to think
- robotB1nouna machine that can do work automatically, often controlled by a computer
- placementB2nounthe act of finding a job, school place or position for someone, or the way something is put somewhere
- desktopB2nounthe main screen of a computer with icons; also a computer that stays on a desk
- telecommunicationB2nounthe sending of messages and information over long distances by phone, radio, cable or the internet
- bufferC1nounsomething that protects one thing from another, or reduces a harmful effect
- attainC1verbto succeed in getting or reaching something, usually after effort
- infectB2verbto give someone a disease, or to make a wound or computer full of something harmful
- formulateC1verbto develop a plan, idea or theory carefully and express it clearly
- socialistB2adjectivebased on the idea that wealth and industry should be shared or controlled by the community
- browserB2nouna computer program that you use to find and look at pages on the internet
- cyclicalC1adjectivehappening in a regular pattern that repeats again and again over time
- exaggerateB2verbto make something seem bigger, better or worse than it really is
- likewiseB2adverbin the same way; also used to say you feel the same as someone
- cartelC1nouna group of companies that agree to keep prices high and limit competition
- triumphB2nouna great success or victory, or the proud feeling it brings
- rationaleC1nounthe reasons or principles that explain a decision, plan or belief
- processorB2nounthe part of a computer that carries out instructions, or a machine that prepares food
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.