Word List
Year 5 Vocabulary List
Year 5 learners are expected to form and defend their own views. This list equips them with the precise vocabulary needed to write convincingly and read analytically.
Good for
Year 5 students and upper-primary educators building critical thinking and writing skills.
Focus
Persuasive and argumentative vocabulary, literary terms, conceptual and evaluative language.
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001
Word
abolish
verb
Meaning
to formally put an end to a law, system, or institution
#
002
Word
absorb
verb
Meaning
To take in and hold something, such as information or liquid.
#
003
Word
abstraction
noun
Meaning
the quality of dealing with ideas rather than concrete events; also a general concept extracted from specific examples
#
004
Word
accomplish
verb
Meaning
to succeed in finishing something difficult
#
005
Word
accountability
noun
Meaning
being responsible for your actions and expected to explain them to others
#
006
Word
accumulate
verb
Meaning
to gradually gather or collect a large amount of something over time
#
007
Word
acknowledge
verb
Meaning
To accept and recognise the truth of something.
#
008
Word
activate
verb
Meaning
To cause something to start working or operating.
#
009
Word
activism
noun
Meaning
the practice of taking direct action to achieve political or social goals
#
010
Word
adjust
verb
Meaning
To make small changes to improve something or make it work better.
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011
Word
adversarial
adjective
Meaning
involving opposing parties that actively oppose each other
#
012
Word
advocate
verb
Meaning
to publicly support or recommend a particular cause or policy
#
013
Word
aesthetic
adjective
Meaning
relating to beauty and the appreciation of beautiful things
#
014
Word
affirmative
adjective
Meaning
asserting that something is true; supportive of a proposition
#
015
Word
aggravate
verb
Meaning
To make a problem or situation worse.
#
016
Word
alienation
noun
Meaning
the feeling of being isolated or cut off from a group or society
#
017
Word
allegation
noun
Meaning
a claim that someone has done something wrong, before it is proved
#
018
Word
allusion
noun
Meaning
an indirect or passing reference to a well-known event, person, or text
#
019
Word
ambiguity
noun
Meaning
the quality of having more than one possible meaning or interpretation
#
020
Word
anachronism
noun
Meaning
something that is out of its time period; belonging to a different era
#
021
Word
anarchy
noun
Meaning
a state of disorder due to the absence or non-recognition of authority
#
022
Word
anecdote
noun
Meaning
a short personal story used to illustrate a point
#
023
Word
annotate
verb
Meaning
To add notes or comments to a text to explain it.
#
024
Word
antagonism
noun
Meaning
active hostility or opposition between competing forces or ideas
#
025
Word
anticipate
verb
Meaning
To expect or look forward to something happening.
#
026
Word
apathy
noun
Meaning
lack of interest, enthusiasm, or concern about something important
#
027
Word
apparatus
noun
Meaning
the equipment needed for a particular activity or purpose
#
028
Word
appeal
noun
Meaning
an argument designed to influence someone's emotions or reason
#
029
Word
appreciate
verb
Meaning
To recognise the value or quality of something.
#
030
Word
arbitrary
adjective
Meaning
decided by chance or personal whim rather than by a rule or reason
#
031
Word
archival
adjective
Meaning
relating to historical records preserved for their long-term value
#
032
Word
arguably
adverb
Meaning
it can be reasonably asserted that; used to qualify a claim
#
033
Word
assertion
noun
Meaning
a confident statement of fact or belief made without proof
#
034
Word
attrition
noun
Meaning
the gradual reduction in strength or numbers through sustained pressure or loss
#
035
Word
austerity
noun
Meaning
difficult economic conditions involving reduced spending and increased hardship
#
036
Word
autonomy
noun
Meaning
the right or ability to make your own decisions; independence
#
037
Word
axiom
noun
Meaning
a statement or proposition regarded as self-evidently true
#
038
Word
biodiversity
noun
Meaning
the variety of plant and animal life found in a particular habitat or on Earth
#
039
Word
capitalism
noun
Meaning
an economic system based on private ownership and the free market
#
040
Word
catalyse
verb
Meaning
to speed up or bring about a process or change
#
041
Word
catalyst
noun
Meaning
something that causes or speeds up a change or reaction
#
042
Word
categorically
adverb
Meaning
in an absolute and definitive way; without exception
#
043
Word
censorship
noun
Meaning
the practice of suppressing material considered harmful or sensitive
#
044
Word
characterisation
noun
Meaning
the way an author develops and reveals a character's personality
#
045
Word
cinquain
noun
Meaning
A five-line poem with a specific syllable pattern.
#
046
Word
circumspect
adjective
Meaning
careful to think about all circumstances before acting; cautious
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047
Word
coherent
adjective
Meaning
logical and well-organised so that it is easy to understand
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048
Word
cohesive
adjective
Meaning
forming a unified, integrated whole
#
049
Word
collaborate
verb
Meaning
to work together with others on a shared project or goal
#
050
Word
colonisation
noun
Meaning
the action of settling among and establishing control over indigenous peoples of an area
#
051
Word
commodity
noun
Meaning
a raw material or product that can be bought and sold
#
052
Word
compelling
adjective
Meaning
powerfully persuasive; not easy to resist or ignore
#
053
Word
compromise
noun
Meaning
an agreement where both sides give something up to reach a middle ground
#
054
Word
compulsory
adjective
Meaning
required by law or rule; obligatory
#
055
Word
condescension
noun
Meaning
an attitude of superiority towards others; talking down to someone
#
056
Word
connotation
noun
Meaning
the idea or feeling that a word suggests beyond its main dictionary meaning
#
057
Word
connotative
adjective
Meaning
relating to the associations and feelings attached to a word
#
058
Word
consent
noun
Meaning
permission freely given by someone for something to happen
#
059
Word
consequence
noun
Meaning
a result or effect of an action or condition
#
060
Word
contemporary
adjective
Meaning
belonging to or occurring in the present time; modern
#
061
Word
context
noun
Meaning
the circumstances or background that help explain the meaning of something
#
062
Word
contradiction
noun
Meaning
a combination of statements or features that oppose each other
#
063
Word
contradictory
adjective
Meaning
saying or showing opposite things that cannot both be true
#
064
Word
controversy
noun
Meaning
a disagreement that many people have strong feelings about
#
065
Word
conversely
adverb
Meaning
introducing a statement that is the opposite of one already made
#
066
Word
corrupted
adjective
Meaning
made dishonest or morally wrong through the abuse of power
#
067
Word
counterargument
noun
Meaning
a reason given in opposition to another argument
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068
Word
counterpoint
noun
Meaning
an opposing or contrasting argument or feature
#
069
Word
covert
adjective
Meaning
not openly acknowledged or displayed; hidden or secret
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070
Word
credibility
noun
Meaning
the quality of being trusted and believed
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071
Word
criterion
noun
Meaning
A standard by which something can be judged.
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072
Word
cumulative
adjective
Meaning
increasing or growing by adding one thing at a time over time
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073
Word
decisive
adjective
Meaning
settling an issue conclusively; showing an ability to make decisions
#
074
Word
decomposition
noun
Meaning
the process by which organic matter breaks down into simpler substances
#
075
Word
deductive
adjective
Meaning
Relating to reasoning that moves from general facts to a specific conclusion.
#
076
Word
dehumanise
verb
Meaning
to deprive a person of positive human qualities or dignity
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077
Word
deliberate
adjective
Meaning
Done on purpose; carefully thought about.
#
078
Word
demography
noun
Meaning
the study of statistics about the population, such as age and income
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079
Word
denotation
noun
Meaning
the direct or dictionary meaning of a word, without added associations
#
080
Word
depict
verb
Meaning
To show or represent something in a picture or description.
#
081
Word
derive
verb
Meaning
To get or obtain something from a source.
#
082
Word
diction
noun
Meaning
the choice of words and phrases used by a writer or speaker
#
083
Word
dilemma
noun
Meaning
a situation in which a choice must be made between equally undesirable alternatives
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084
Word
diminish
verb
Meaning
To make or become smaller or less important.
#
085
Word
disclose
verb
Meaning
To make something known; to reveal information.
#
086
Word
discrimination
noun
Meaning
unfair treatment of people based on characteristics like race or gender
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087
Word
disjunction
noun
Meaning
A separation or contrast between two things.
#
088
Word
disparity
noun
Meaning
A great difference between two things.
#
089
Word
disposition
noun
Meaning
A person's natural qualities of mind and character.
#
090
Word
dissent
noun
Meaning
the expression of disagreement with official, prevailing, or majority opinion
#
091
Word
distort
verb
Meaning
To change the shape or meaning of something inaccurately.
#
092
Word
divergent
adjective
Meaning
Tending to be different or developing in different directions.
#
093
Word
divisive
adjective
Meaning
causing disagreement and conflict between people
#
094
Word
documentary
noun
Meaning
a film or television programme presenting factual information about real events
#
095
Word
dogma
noun
Meaning
a set of principles laid down by an authority as unquestionably true
#
096
Word
dominant
adjective
Meaning
having power and influence over others; most important or prevalent
#
097
Word
dramatise
verb
Meaning
to present something as a play or film; or to exaggerate for effect
#
098
Word
ecological
adjective
Meaning
relating to the relationship between living organisms and their environment
#
099
Word
egocentric
adjective
Meaning
thinking only of oneself without regard for others
#
100
Word
elaborate
verb
Meaning
to add more detail or explanation to what has been said
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101
Word
elitism
noun
Meaning
the belief that a select group with superior qualities should lead society
#
102
Word
embody
verb
Meaning
to represent or be an expression of something in a concrete form
#
103
Word
empathy
noun
Meaning
the ability to understand and share the feelings of another person
#
104
Word
emphasise
verb
Meaning
to give special importance or attention to something
#
105
Word
empirically
adverb
Meaning
based on observation and experimental evidence rather than theory
#
106
Word
empiricism
noun
Meaning
the theory that all knowledge is derived from sense-experience
#
107
Word
empower
verb
Meaning
To give someone the power or authority to do something.
#
108
Word
encounter
verb
Meaning
To meet or experience something, often unexpectedly.
#
109
Word
enhance
verb
Meaning
To make something better or greater.
#
110
Word
epistemological
adjective
Meaning
relating to the study of knowledge and how we come to know things
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111
Word
equality
noun
Meaning
the state of having the same rights and opportunities as everyone else
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112
Word
equilibrium
noun
Meaning
a state of balance between opposing forces or factors
#
113
Word
equitable
adjective
Meaning
fair and impartial; treating everyone justly
#
114
Word
eradicate
verb
Meaning
to destroy or remove something completely
#
115
Word
espionage
noun
Meaning
the practice of spying to obtain secret information
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116
Word
establish
verb
Meaning
to set something up firmly; to prove something beyond doubt
#
117
Word
ethical
adjective
Meaning
relating to moral principles of right and wrong behaviour
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118
Word
ethnicity
noun
Meaning
the fact of belonging to a social group that has a common culture and tradition
#
119
Word
eulogise
verb
Meaning
to speak or write in high praise of something or someone
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120
Word
evolve
verb
Meaning
To develop gradually over time.
#
121
Word
exacerbate
verb
Meaning
to make a problem or bad situation worse
#
122
Word
excavation
noun
Meaning
the act of digging into the ground to discover buried remains
#
123
Word
exodus
noun
Meaning
a mass departure of people from one place to another
#
124
Word
exploitation
noun
Meaning
using someone or something unfairly for your own benefit
#
125
Word
expunge
verb
Meaning
to erase or remove something completely from a record or memory
#
126
Word
fable
noun
Meaning
A short story with a moral lesson, often with animals as characters.
#
127
Word
facile
adjective
Meaning
appearing neat and comprehensive but ignoring the complexities of an issue
#
128
Word
fallible
adjective
Meaning
capable of making mistakes; not completely reliable
#
129
Word
fanatic
noun
Meaning
a person with an extreme and uncritical enthusiasm for something
#
130
Word
flashback
noun
Meaning
A scene set earlier in time than the main story.
#
131
Word
fluctuate
verb
Meaning
to rise and fall irregularly; to be variable and unpredictable
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132
Word
fluctuation
noun
Meaning
an irregular rise and fall in a value or level
#
133
Word
forensic
adjective
Meaning
relating to the application of scientific methods to investigate crime or debate
#
134
Word
foster
verb
Meaning
to encourage the development of something; to nurture
#
135
Word
frugal
adjective
Meaning
economical with money or food; avoiding waste
#
136
Word
genocide
noun
Meaning
the deliberate killing of a large group of people of a particular nation or ethnicity
#
137
Word
globalisation
noun
Meaning
the process by which the world becomes more connected and interdependent
#
138
Word
globalise
verb
Meaning
to develop in a way that makes something extend across the whole world
#
139
Word
governance
noun
Meaning
the action or manner of governing; the system by which an organisation is managed
#
140
Word
gradient
noun
Meaning
a sloping surface or line; the degree of a slope
#
141
Word
grievance
noun
Meaning
a real or imagined cause for complaint or protest
#
142
Word
haiku
noun
Meaning
A Japanese poem of three lines with a set syllable count.
#
143
Word
hallmark
noun
Meaning
a mark indicating quality or excellence; a distinctive feature
#
144
Word
hierarchy
noun
Meaning
a system of things arranged according to levels of importance or authority
#
145
Word
homogeneous
adjective
Meaning
of the same kind; uniform throughout
#
146
Word
humanitarian
adjective
Meaning
concerned with or seeking to promote human welfare
#
147
Word
hybridise
verb
Meaning
to produce or cause to produce a hybrid by crossbreeding or mixing
#
148
Word
ideological
adjective
Meaning
relating to a set of ideas and beliefs about society and politics
#
149
Word
ideology
noun
Meaning
a system of ideas and values that forms the basis of a political or social theory
#
150
Word
illuminate
verb
Meaning
to make something clearer or easier to understand
#
151
Word
inductive
adjective
Meaning
Relating to reasoning from specific facts to general rules.
#
152
Word
influence
noun
Meaning
The power to have an effect on people or events.
#
153
Word
inherently
adverb
Meaning
in a way that exists as a natural and permanent quality of something
#
154
Word
injustice
noun
Meaning
unfair treatment or a lack of fairness in how people are treated
#
155
Word
interdependence
noun
Meaning
the condition of relying on each other for survival or support
#
156
Word
intertextuality
noun
Meaning
the relationship between texts that reference or respond to each other
#
157
Word
juxtapose
verb
Meaning
to place two things close together to highlight their differences or similarities
#
158
Word
kinetic
adjective
Meaning
relating to or produced by motion
#
159
Word
manipulation
noun
Meaning
the unfair use of language or facts to influence someone
#
160
Word
mercurial
adjective
Meaning
changing moods or opinions quickly and unpredictably
#
161
Word
meticulous
adjective
Meaning
giving great attention to every small detail; very careful and precise
#
162
Word
objectivity
noun
Meaning
the quality of being based on facts rather than personal feelings
#
163
Word
ode
noun
Meaning
A poem written in praise of a particular person or thing.
#
164
Word
ostensibly
adverb
Meaning
apparently or seemingly, but not necessarily actually so
#
165
Word
oxidation
noun
Meaning
a chemical reaction in which a substance combines with oxygen
#
166
Word
pace
noun
Meaning
the speed at which a narrative moves or events unfold
#
167
Word
paradoxical
adjective
Meaning
seeming to contradict itself, yet possibly true
#
168
Word
parody
noun
Meaning
an imitation of someone's work done in an exaggerated way for comic effect
#
169
Word
perception
noun
Meaning
the way you understand or interpret something based on your senses or experience
#
170
Word
peripheral
adjective
Meaning
of minor importance; not central to the main issue
#
171
Word
pragmatic
adjective
Meaning
dealing with things in a realistic and practical way rather than following theory
#
172
Word
precipitation
noun
Meaning
moisture that falls from the atmosphere as rain, snow, sleet, or hail
#
173
Word
prejudice
noun
Meaning
an unfair opinion about someone formed without proper thought or knowledge
#
174
Word
privilege
noun
Meaning
a special advantage available to a particular person or group
#
175
Word
progressively
adverb
Meaning
increasing in extent or severity step by step over time
#
176
Word
prominent
adjective
Meaning
Important and well-known; standing out.
#
177
Word
propaganda
noun
Meaning
information spread to promote one point of view, often in a biased way
#
178
Word
rationale
noun
Meaning
a set of reasons explaining why something was done or decided
#
179
Word
rebuttal
noun
Meaning
a direct reply that proves an argument to be wrong
#
180
Word
reform
noun
Meaning
a change made to improve a system, law, or organisation
#
181
Word
refutation
noun
Meaning
the act of proving a claim or argument is incorrect
#
182
Word
relatively
adverb
Meaning
in relation to something else; to a certain degree but not absolutely
#
183
Word
reproduction
noun
Meaning
the biological process by which organisms produce offspring
#
184
Word
require
verb
Meaning
To need something; to make something necessary.
#
185
Word
resolve
verb
Meaning
To find a solution to a problem.
#
186
Word
respiration
noun
Meaning
the biological process of converting food into energy in living cells
#
187
Word
retain
verb
Meaning
To continue to have something; to keep.
#
188
Word
scepticism
noun
Meaning
a doubting attitude; a tendency to question accepted views
#
189
Word
significance
noun
Meaning
The importance or meaning of something.
#
190
Word
sonnet
noun
Meaning
A poem of 14 lines with a specific rhyme scheme.
#
191
Word
sovereignty
noun
Meaning
the authority of a state to govern itself without outside interference
#
192
Word
stereotype
noun
Meaning
an oversimplified or fixed image of a particular type of person or thing
#
193
Word
subjective
adjective
Meaning
Based on personal feelings rather than facts.
#
194
Word
subjectivity
noun
Meaning
the quality of being based on personal feelings rather than facts
#
195
Word
subplot
noun
Meaning
A secondary strand of a story that supports the main plot.
#
196
Word
subsequently
adverb
Meaning
occurring after a specified or implied event in time
#
197
Word
substantial
adjective
Meaning
of considerable size, value, or importance; large and real
#
198
Word
subtext
noun
Meaning
an underlying meaning in a text that is not stated directly
#
199
Word
suspense
noun
Meaning
A feeling of excitement or tension about what will happen next.
#
200
Word
sustainability
noun
Meaning
the ability to continue something over time without damaging the environment
#
201
Word
systematic
adjective
Meaning
done using a fixed, organised plan or method; thorough
#
202
Word
tenuous
adjective
Meaning
very weak, slight, or uncertain
#
203
Word
transform
verb
Meaning
To change completely in form or character.
#
204
Word
transformation
noun
Meaning
a complete or major change in form, nature, or appearance
#
205
Word
transparency
noun
Meaning
being open and easy to see or understand; not hiding anything
#
206
Word
unbiased
adjective
Meaning
Not showing unfair favouritism; neutral.
#
207
Word
unprecedented
adjective
Meaning
never done or experienced before
#
208
Word
valid
adjective
Meaning
Based on sound reasoning; legally or officially acceptable.
#
209
Word
validate
verb
Meaning
to prove that something is true or correct; to confirm
#
210
Word
wavelength
noun
Meaning
the distance between successive peaks of a wave of light or sound
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