Advanced English (2) • NOUNS • 'W'

noun [C ] C2 • synonyms: desert, ruin, void, no-man’s-land • emotional/cultural/urban wasteland; feel like a wasteland • freq in AmE: 6/10

a barren or desolate area with little or no vegetation, life, or activity; metaphorically, a place or state of emptiness, neglect, or emotional devastation

collocation with wasteland noun [C ] C2 • synonyms: scorched ruin, emotional desert, devastated zone • burned-out wasteland of land/emotion/memory; feel like a wasteland • freq in AmE: 5/10

a place or state that has been completely destroyed, exhausted, or left barren — often by fire, war, emotional trauma, or neglect; used both literally (scorched terrain) and metaphorically (emotional or societal ruin)

noun [U ] C2 dual-use • synonyms: well-being, support, benefit system • ensure/protect/promote someone’s welfare; be on welfare; welfare system/benefits/policy • child/public/social/economic welfare • freq in AmE: 8/10

the health, happiness, and general well-being of a person or group; also refers to financial or social support provided by the government to individuals in need

collocation with welfare noun [U ] C2 social • synonyms: child protection, child well-being, family support • promote/improve/protect child welfare; child welfare system/services/agency • freq in AmE: 8/10

the well-being, safety, and development of children, especially in relation to social services, legal protection, and family support systems; often used in policy, healthcare, and advocacy contexts

noun [C ] C2 (no plural) • synonyms: uterus, cradle of life • womb imagery/symbolism; child in the womb; sacred womb • freq in AmE: 5/10

a soft, hollow organ in the female body where a baby develops before birth; often used symbolically to evoke origin, protection, and creation

noun [C ] C2 (UK usually jeopardise) • formal/gambling/literary • synonyms: bet, stake, gamble • place/make/accept a wager; high-stakes wager; wager on outcome • freq in AmE: 4/10

a bet or stake placed on the outcome of an event, especially in gambling or speculative contexts; can also refer to the act of betting itself

noun [C ] C2 • economic/political • synonyms: excess profits tax, levy on windfall gains • impose/levy windfall tax on corporations; windfall tax on profits/earnings; controversial/temporary tax • freq in AmE: 4/10

a tax imposed on companies or individuals who receive unexpectedly large profits or financial gains, especially when those gains are seen as unearned or excessive

noun [plural ] C1 formal • synonyms: policy documents, analytical reports, position papers • publish white papers on policy/tech/research • freq in AmE: 5/10

authoritative reports or official documents that present information, analysis, or proposals on a specific issue; often used to inform decision-making or outline policy positions

noun [C ] C1 • synonyms: sudden departure, job protest, walkout • stage/trigger a walkoff; walkoff due to burnout/protest • freq in AmE: 5/10

a sudden or deliberate departure from a job, position, or responsibility — often as a form of protest, frustration, or assertion of boundaries

noun [U ] C1 • synonyms: milk serum, cheese liquid, protein-rich fluid • whey protein/liquid/bread; produce/save/use whey • freq in AmE: 5/10

the liquid remaining after milk has been curdled and strained during cheese production; rich in protein and lactose, used in cooking, baking, and dietary supplements

noun [plural ] C1 • synonyms: unrefined grains, fiber-rich grains • whole grains in oats/rice/bread; eat/choose/switch to whole grains; whole vs refined grains; digestion/fiber/nutrition • freq in AmE: 8/10

cereal grains that contain all three parts of the grain kernel — the bran, germ, and endosperm — offering more fiber, nutrients, and health benefits than refined grains

noun [C ] C1 formal • synonyms: informant, exposer, truth-teller • corporate/government whistleblower; whistleblower protection/laws/retaliation; act as/become a whistleblower • freq in AmE: 6/10

a person who exposes wrongdoing, illegal activity, or unethical behavior within an organization, typically by reporting it to authorities or the public

noun [C usually singular ] C1 • synonyms: disaster scenario, collapse model, failure outcome • in a worst-case scenario; worst-case scenario in planning/crisis/forecasting • freq in AmE: 6/10

the most severe, damaging, or undesirable possible outcome in a given situation; a hypothetical scenario used for planning, risk assessment, or psychological preparation

collocation with worst-case scenario noun [C usually singular ] C1 • synonyms: anticipate disaster, plan for collapse, crisis-proof • prepare for the worst-case scenario in planning/disaster/negotiations • freq in AmE: 5/10

to make plans or take precautions assuming the most severe or damaging outcome might occur; to anticipate and mitigate the impact of a hypothetical crisis or failure

noun [U ] C1 • synonyms: magic, mastery, brilliance • technical/creative/verbal wizardry; wizardry in design/programming/storytelling • freq in AmE: 6/10

the art or practice of magic; figuratively, exceptional skill or creative mastery that seems almost magical

noun [U ] C2 • synonyms: social awareness, activism • embrace/mock/weaponize wokeness; wokeness culture/backlash/fatigue • freq in AmE: 7/10

a state of being aware of and actively attentive to social injustices, especially those related to race, gender, and inequality — often associated with progressive activism and identity politics