English Vocabulary Dictionary | Word Meanings, Definitions & Examples
CEFR Level
Relating to priests or the priesthood.
"The ritual had a distinctly sacerdotal character."
a room in a church where sacred vessels and vestments are kept
"The priest entered the sacristy before the mass began."
Having or showing keen mental discernment and good judgment; wise.
"The sagacious leader guided the team through difficult times."
The quality of being sagacious; having or showing keen mental discernment and good judgment.
"His sagacity made him a great leader."
starchy foodstuff obtained from the pith of various tropical palm stems
"She prepared sago pudding for dessert."
Having or conveying undue or inappropriate sexual interest.
"The tabloid published a salacious story about the celebrity."
The quality of being particularly noticeable or important; prominence.
"The salience of the issue was highlighted in the debate."
Of an unhealthy yellow or pale brown color, often referring to skin.
"His sallow complexion made him look tired and sickly."
Health-giving; promoting well-being.
"They decided to move to a more salubrious neighborhood with cleaner air."
Relating to or expressing a greeting or an address, especially at the beginning of a speech.
"She delivered a salutatory address at the graduation ceremony."
An ointment used to promote healing of the skin or as protection.
"She applied a salve to the burn on her hand."
A tray, typically made of silver, used for serving food or drinks.
"The butler brought in the tea on a silver salver."
A simultaneous discharge of guns or release of bombs; a sudden outburst of cheers or applause.
"The soldiers fired a salvo to honor the fallen general."
To make holy or sacred; to set apart as holy.
"The priest sanctified the new church building."
Composure or coolness, especially in difficult situations.
"The leader handled the crisis with remarkable sang-froid."
Composure or coolness under pressure.
"She impressed everyone with her sangfroid during the interview."
Involving or causing much bloodshed; bloodthirsty.
"The battle was one of the most sanguinary conflicts of the war."
Relating to blood; bloody.
"The surgeon examined the sanguineous discharge from the wound."
Having a pleasant taste; flavorful.
"The chef prepared a sapid dish that delighted everyone at the table."
Wisdom or intelligence.
"Her sapience in solving problems earned her the respect of her colleagues."
Wise, or appearing to be wise.
"The professor gave a sapient response to the complex question."
Relating to wisdom or knowledge, often in a religious or philosophical sense.
"The monk shared sapiential teachings with his students."
Soapy or having the qualities of soap.
"The plant has saponaceous leaves that produce foam when rubbed in water."
A stone coffin, often decorated, used in ancient times.
"The museum displayed a beautifully carved sarcophagus from ancient Egypt."
Relating to tailoring, clothes, or style of dress.
"The actor is known for his sartorial elegance on the red carpet."
To satisfy fully or to excess.
"The huge meal sated their hunger after the long journey."
To satisfy fully, especially with food or desire.
"The large meal satiated his hunger."
The state of being completely satisfied, especially with food.
"After the feast, he leaned back with a feeling of satiety."
a governor of a province in ancient Persia; also used figuratively for a subordinate ruler
"The king appointed a satrap to oversee the distant province."
slow and gloomy in mood
"His saturnine expression made everyone in the room uncomfortable."
a creature from Greek mythology depicted as a lustful being, often half-man and half-goat; by extension, a lecherous man
"In the museum mural, a satyr plays the panpipes while dancing in the woods."
a learned person, especially a distinguished scientist or scholar; sometimes used in the phrase ‘savant syndrome’ for someone with exceptional abilities alongside developmental differences
"The conference keynote was delivered by a linguistic savant who studies endangered languages."
The ability to act or speak appropriately in social situations; polished social skills.
"She handled the delicate situation with remarkable savoir-faire."
flattering or wheedling talk; soft soap
"His sawder couldn't convince anyone of his sincerity."
A sheath for the blade of a sword or dagger, typically made of leather or metal.
"The knight drew his sword from the scabbard."
A type of fish of the jack family; also informally means a large number or quantity.
"The fisherman caught a scad in the net."
A large number or quantity of something (informal).
"She has scads of friends in the city."
to make shallow cuts or scratches; to loosen the surface of soil
"The farmer scarified the soil before planting seeds."
pleasure derived from another person's misfortune
"He felt a sense of schadenfreude when his rival failed."
A division or split between strongly opposed parties, often in religion or organizations.
"The schism in the church led to the formation of two separate groups."
A region or area lacking in scientific development, research facilities, or educational institutions.
"J.C. Bose thrived in a science-desert."
A tiny trace or spark of a specified quality or feeling.
"There wasn’t a scintilla of doubt in her mind."
to sparkle or shine brightly; to emit flashes of light
"The diamond ring scintillated under the bright lights."
pretentious show of superficial knowledge
"His speech was full of sciolism, impressing no one."
the act of cutting or dividing something
"The political party suffered a scission over ideological disputes."
a type of fish with venomous spines that belongs to the family Scorpaenidae
"The scorpion fish has dangerous spines that can inject venom."
a long, tedious piece of writing or speech; also a layer of material like cement spread on a surface
"He delivered a long screed against corruption."
a servant assigned the most menial kitchen tasks
"In medieval times, a scullion was responsible for cleaning pots and pans."
Using or expressed in coarse, abusive, or slanderous language.
"The politician faced criticism for his scurrilous remarks about his opponent."