C1 English Nouns: Systems & Standards
This final section of our C1 nouns list covers words for conceptual frameworks and evaluation. You will find vocabulary for Systems, Structures & Concepts like ideology, protocol, and hierarchy, and nouns related to Standards, Performance & Measurement such as benchmark, criterion, and portfolio.
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Systems, Structures & Concepts
| Word | Example Sentence | IPA (UK) |
|---|---|---|
| academy | She studied at a prestigious academy. | /əˈkædəmi/ |
| analogy | The teacher used a simple analogy to explain the concept. | /əˈnælədʒi/ |
| array | The shop stocks a wide array of instruments. | /əˈreɪ/ |
| behalf | She spoke on behalf of the entire team.
Word Partners: on behalf of
|
/bɪˈhɑːf/ |
| boundary | The dispute centred on the boundary between the two nations. | /ˈbaʊndri/ |
| bulk | Purchasing in bulk reduced costs significantly. | /bʌlk/ |
| chaos | The sudden collapse of the government created political chaos.
Word Partners: political chaos, descend into chaos
|
/ˈkeɪɒs/ |
| clarity | The explanation lacked clarity. | /ˈklærəti/ |
| classification | The classification organised species systematically. | /ˌklæsɪfɪˈkeɪʃn/ |
| cluster | A cluster of stars appeared in the telescope. | /ˈklʌstə(r)/ |
| complement | The sauce was a perfect complement to the dish.
Word Partners: perfect complement
|
/ˈkɒmplɪment/ |
| complexity | The issue presented considerable complexity. | /kəmˈpleksəti/ |
| consistency | The argument lacked logical consistency. | /kənˈsɪstənsi/ |
| constraint | Budget constraints limited their options.
Word Partners: budget constraints, time constraints
|
/kənˈstreɪnt/ |
| contradiction | The testimony revealed a fundamental contradiction. | /ˌkɒntrəˈdɪkʃn/ |
| criterion | The main criterion for success is a willingness to learn.
Word Partners: the main criterion, meet the criteria
|
/kraɪˈtɪəriən/ |
| cult | The book developed a cult following.
Word Partners: cult following, cult status
|
/kʌlt/ |
| dilemma | The situation posed a profound ethical dilemma.
Word Partners: ethical dilemma
|
/dɪˈlemə/ |
| dimension | The problem had a moral dimension. | /daɪˈmenʃn/ |
| distinction | The distinction between the concepts was subtle. | /dɪˈstɪŋkʃn/ |
| doctrine | The president outlined a new military doctrine.
Word Partners: military doctrine, political doctrine
|
/ˈdɒktrɪn/ |
| domain | The theory belonged to the domain of philosophy. | /dəˈmeɪn/ |
| drawback | The main drawback of the plan is the enormous cost.
Word Partners: main/major drawback
|
/ˈdrɔːbæk/ |
| entity | The organisation operated as a entity. | /ˈentəti/ |
| essence | In essence, the problem was a lack of funding.
Word Partners: in essence
|
/ˈesns/ |
| establishment | The protesters challenged the political establishment. | /ɪˈstæblɪʃmənt/ |
| excess | The budget had a small excess of funds. | /ɪkˈses/ |
| fate | She accepted her fate with resignation. | /feɪt/ |
| handful | Only a handful of delegates voted against the measure.
Word Partners: a handful of
|
/ˈhændfʊl/ |
| hazard | The activity posed a significant hazard. | /ˈhæzəd/ |
| heritage | The bombing destroyed sites of immense cultural heritage.
Word Partners: cultural heritage, national heritage
|
/ˈherɪtɪdʒ/ |
| hierarchy | The military maintained a strict hierarchy of command. | /ˈhaɪərɑːki/ |
| humanity | The atrocities represented crimes against humanity.
Word Partners: crimes against humanity, common humanity
|
/hjuːˈmænəti/ |
| inability | The government's inability to maintain order led to intervention. | /ˌɪnəˈbɪləti/ |
| indicator | Rising unemployment served as an indicator of social unrest. | /ˈɪndɪkeɪtə(r)/ |
| infrastructure | The war has severely damaged the country's infrastructure.
Word Partners: transport infrastructure
|
/ˈɪnfrəstrʌktʃə(r)/ |
| layout | The layout promoted collaborative working. | /ˈleɪaʊt/ |
| legacy | The dictator's legacy was one of oppression and violence. | /ˈleɡəsi/ |
| line-up | The festival line-up featured renowned artists.
Word Partners: festival line-up
|
/ˈlaɪn ʌp/ |
| literacy | Digital literacy became essential for researchers.
Word Partners: digital literacy
|
/ˈlɪtərəsi/ |
| logic | The argument followed clear logic. | /ˈlɒdʒɪk/ |
| loop | The belt loop had torn. | /luːp/ |
| meantime | In the meantime, she continued working on the proposal.
Word Partners: in the meantime
|
/ˈmiːntaɪm/ |
| morality | The debate raised questions of political morality. | /məˈræləti/ |
| niche | She managed to carve out a niche for herself in the art world.
Word Partners: carve out a niche
|
/niːʃ/ |
| nonsense | She dismissed the claim as utter nonsense.
Word Partners: utter/complete nonsense
|
/ˈnɒnsns/ |
| norm | In the 1950s, it was the norm for women to stay at home.
Word Partners: the social norm, become the norm
|
/nɔːm/ |
| odds | He tried his best, but the odds were stacked against him.
Word Partners: the odds are (stacked) against, beat the odds
|
/ɒdz/ |
| orientation | The programme provided guidance on orientation. | /ˌɔːriənˈteɪʃn/ |
| outlook | The economic outlook remained uncertain.
Word Partners: economic outlook
|
/ˈaʊtlʊk/ |
| premise | The argument rested on a premise. | /ˈpremɪs/ |
| protocol | Staff followed established security protocols.
Word Partners: security protocol
|
/ˈprəʊtəkɒl/ |
| provision | The treaty included provisions for ceasefire monitoring. | /prəˈvɪʒn/ |
| ranking | The ranking military officer assumed command. | /ˈræŋkɪŋ/ |
| realm | The kingdom's realm extended to the coast. | /relm/ |
| relevance | The theory's relevance became apparent. | /ˈreləvəns/ |
| remainder | The remainder was distributed equally. | /rɪˈmeɪndə(r)/ |
| ritual | The coronation followed ancient rituals. | /ˈrɪtʃuəl/ |
| roster | The broadcasting roster included established presenters. | /ˈrɒstə(r)/ |
| sake | For the sake of clarity, she repeated the point.
Word Partners: for the sake of
|
/seɪk/ |
| scenario | Let's consider the worst-case scenario.
Word Partners: worst-case scenario
|
/səˈnɑːriəʊ/ |
| scope | The project expanded beyond its original scope. | /skəʊp/ |
| segment | Each segment required different strategies. | /ˈseɡmənt/ |
| setup | The current setup proved inefficient. | /ˈsetʌp/ |
| sin | The concept of sin varied across cultures. | /sɪn/ |
| slot | The machine accepted payment. | /slɒt/ |
| span | The bridge had an impressive span.
Word Partners: attention span, life span
|
/spæn/ |
| sphere | The discovery opened new spheres of investigation. | /sfɪə(r)/ |
| standing | Her professional standing was high. | /ˈstændɪŋ/ |
| stereotype | The campaign challenged negative stereotypes about refugees. | /ˈsteriətaɪp/ |
| theology | The conflict had roots in competing systems of theology. | /θiˈɒlədʒi/ |
| threshold | The debate marked a critical threshold. | /ˈθreʃhəʊld/ |
| utility | The state-owned utility provided water and electricity. | /juːˈtɪləti/ |
| width | The river's width varied considerably. | /wɪdθ/ |
| worship | The constitution guaranteed freedom of worship. | /ˈwɜːʃɪp/ |
Standards, Performance & Measurement
| Word | Example Sentence | IPA (UK) |
|---|---|---|
| accountability | The board demanded greater financial accountability from executives.
Word Partners: financial accountability, corporate accountability
|
/əˌkaʊntəˈbɪləti/ |
| availability | The availability of resources determined feasibility. | /əˌveɪləˈbɪləti/ |
| capability | The firm lacked the technical capability to compete.
Word Partners: technical capability, manufacturing capability
|
/ˌkeɪpəˈbɪləti/ |
| competence | The position required demonstrated technical competence.
Word Partners: technical competence, professional competence
|
/ˈkɒmpɪtəns/ |
| credibility | The scandal damaged his credibility irreparably. | /ˌkredəˈbɪləti/ |
| effectiveness | Managers assessed the cost-effectiveness of new procedures.
Word Partners: cost-effectiveness
|
/ɪˈfektɪvnəs/ |
| efficiency | Automation improved operational efficiency dramatically.
Word Partners: operational efficiency
|
/ɪˈfɪʃnsi/ |
| flexibility | The system offered considerable flexibility. | /ˌfleksəˈbɪləti/ |
| incidence | The incidence of the disease increased. | /ˈɪnsɪdəns/ |
| likelihood | The likelihood of success increased. | /ˈlaɪklihʊd/ |
| magnitude | The magnitude of the challenge was daunting. | /ˈmæɡnɪtjuːd/ |
| precision | The task demanded absolute precision. | /prɪˈsɪʒn/ |
| prevalence | The prevalence of the condition increased. | /ˈprevələns/ |
| reliability | The system's reliability was proven. | /rɪˌlaɪəˈbɪləti/ |
| stability | Political stability attracted investment.
Word Partners: political stability, economic stability
|
/stəˈbɪləti/ |
| transparency | The process lacked transparency. | /trænsˈpærənsi/ |
| validity | Experts questioned the validity of the findings. | /vəˈlɪdəti/ |
| vulnerability | The system exposed critical vulnerabilities. | /ˌvʌlnərəˈbɪləti/ |
