Expand your vocabulary one word at a time
/ˈnoʊʃənəl/
Notional means something that exists as an idea or concept but isn't real or tangible. It's useful because it lets us talk about theoretical plans or values, li…
Saturday 25th April 2026
/əbˈstrus/
Abstruse means something is extremely difficult to understand because it's so complex or hidden. It's interesting because it separates things that are inherently hard to grasp, like advanced science, from things that are just badly explained puzzles.
Friday 24th April 2026
/pərˈnɪʃəs/
Pernicious means something that is harmful, particularly when its damage happens slowly and subtly. It's interesting because it highlights how dangers that creep up on us, like misinformation, can be far more destructive than obvious threats, as they become deeply embedded before we even realise the
Thursday 23rd April 2026
/ɪˈlaɪd/
Elide means to deliberately leave something out, like a word or a fact, to make things smoother or create a more straightforward connection. It's interesting because it can be used for the natural way we shorten words when speaking, but also for consciously hiding inconvenient truths in arguments or
Wednesday 22nd April 2026
/səˈɡeɪʃəs/
Sagacious means having excellent judgement and a sharp mind, almost like an intuitive ability to "smell" the truth of a situation. It's interesting because it's not just about being smart, but about using past experience to foresee what will happen next, much like a clever hunting dog tracking a sce
Tuesday 21st April 2026
/dɪkˈtɑːt/
A diktat is an order or settlement that's handed down by a powerful party to a weaker one without any chance for discussion, much like a dictated peace treaty. This term is interesting because it doesn't just mean a rule, but one that feels unfair and imposed, highlighting a significant power imbala
Monday 20th April 2026
/ˌsɛmpɪˈtɜrnəl/
Sempiternal means something that lasts forever from a certain point onwards, unlike ‘eternal’ which suggests timelessness. This word is fascinating because it allows us to precisely describe things that have a definite start but an infinite future, like the lasting impact of climate change or a digi
