CEFR Level
Treating serious issues with deliberately inappropriate humor
"He was being facetious when he said he wanted to live on the moon."
easily achieved or effortless; superficial or simplistic
"He gave a facile explanation that ignored the complexities of the problem."
an exact copy or reproduction of a document
"He sent a facsimile of the contract to the client."
causing disagreement or division within a group; inclined to form factions
"The debate became factious, splitting the committee into rival camps."
artificial or fabricated; not natural or genuine
"The excitement in his story seemed factitious and forced."
an employee who does many different types of work; a general servant
"He worked as a factotum, handling both clerical and maintenance duties."
Following a temporary trend or fashion
"Wearing neon clothes was a faddish style in the 1980s."
gladly, willingly, or with pleasure
"I would fain help you if I had the time."
based on a mistaken belief; logically unsound
"His argument was based on fallacious reasoning."
capable of making mistakes or being wrong
"Even experts are fallible and can make errors."
plowed but left unseeded; inactive or dormant
"The farmer left the field fallow for a season to restore its fertility."
to suffer or cause to suffer from extreme hunger
"The stranded hikers began to famish after several days without food."
without imagination or creativity; plain or ordinary
"His drawings were simple and fanciless."
a short ceremonial tune or display of publicity to attract attention
"The new product was launched with much fanfare."
the belief that all events are predetermined and inevitable
"He embraced fatalism, believing that nothing he did could change his destiny."
impossible to understand or measure; very deep
"The ocean seemed fathomless as it stretched to the horizon."
silly or foolish, especially in a self-satisfied way
"His fatuous comments during the meeting annoyed everyone."
a person who habitually finds fault with others
"He is such a faultfinder that nothing anyone does is ever good enough."
a mythological creature that is half human and half goat
"The sculpture depicted a playful faun dancing in the forest."
a social blunder or mistake in etiquette
"He committed a major faux pas by forgetting her birthday."
displaying exaggerated flattery or affection
"Her fawning compliments made everyone uncomfortable."
to disturb or disconcert someone; to cause to feel unsettled
"She was not fazed by the unexpected question."
loyalty or allegiance, especially to a sovereign or lord
"The knight swore fealty to his king."
having or showing the symptoms of a fever; or highly excitable or agitated
"The patient was in a febrile state with high temperature."
lacking initiative or strength of character; irresponsible
"His feckless attitude at work caused several missed deadlines."
producing or capable of producing an abundance of offspring or new growth; fertile
"The fecund soil produced a bountiful harvest this year."
the ability to produce an abundance of offspring or new growth; fertility
"The fecundity of the river delta supports diverse wildlife."
lacking intelligence or mental capacity; foolish or weak-minded
"The feebleminded man struggled to understand basic instructions."
a deceptive or pretended movement, especially in fighting or sports
"The boxer made a feint to the left before striking to the right."
to congratulate someone; to express happiness for someone's success
"We felicitated her on winning the award."
well-chosen, appropriate, or pleasing; marked by good fortune or happiness
"She made a felicitous remark that lightened the mood."
intense happiness; the ability to find appropriate expression for one's thoughts
"She was known for her felicity in conversation and cheerful nature."
relating to or involved in serious criminal activity
"He was charged with felonious assault after the incident."
a part of a vehicle that frames a wheel well to protect against mud or debris
"The car's fender was dented in the accident."
a place or greenhouse where ferns are cultivated
"The garden's fernery was full of exotic plants."
containing or consisting of iron
"Ferrous metals are commonly used in construction."
intensely passionate or enthusiastic
"He wrote a fervid letter expressing his love."
relating to a festival or celebration
"The hall was decorated in a festal manner for the wedding."
to become worse or more intense, often through neglect or infection
"If grievances are ignored, they may fester into resentment."
a celebration or festival, often in honor of someone
"The village held a grand fete to celebrate the harvest."
an object believed to have magical powers or to be inhabited by a spirit
"The villagers treated the statue as a powerful fetich."
having a strong, unpleasant smell
"The fetid smell from the garbage was unbearable."
to restrain or restrict someone’s freedom
"The strict rules fettered the creativity of the students."
a flat-topped conical red hat with a tassel, traditionally worn in some Middle Eastern countries
"He wore a traditional fez during the cultural festival."
an official order or decree; authoritative command
"The new policy was enacted by royal fiat."
based on trust or confidence; serving as a standard of reference
"The fiducial point on the map ensures accurate measurements."
a person who holds assets in trust for someone else; related to trust and responsibility
"The lawyer acted as a fiduciary for his client’s estate."
an estate of land held under the feudal system; a domain or area of control
"The knight was granted a fief by the lord for his service."
something invented or imaginary; a fabrication of the mind
"The story of the haunted house is just a figment of her imagination."
to steal something in a sneaky or petty way
"He tried to filch a candy bar from the shop."
