immaturity, relief, clarification, emergence, discrepancy: meanings and examples

Learn these 5 words from IELTS Vocabulary set 119. Each entry includes a definition, example sentence, pronunciation, and synonyms. Use the interactive cards above to practice them.

1. immaturity · noun/ˌɪməˈtʃʊr.ɪ.ti/

   the state of being immature or lacking emotional or intellectual development

   His constant need for attention revealed his emotional immaturity, making it hard for him to maintain stable relationships.

   Synonyms: childishness, naivety, youthfulness

   Origin: from Latin 'immaturitas', meaning 'not ripe' or 'not fully developed', from 'immaturus' (unripe, immature)

2. relief · noun/rəˈlif/

   a feeling of alleviation or improvement from distress or discomfort

   After days of worrying about the exam results, the letter finally arrived, bringing a sense of relief that washed over her.

   Synonyms: ease, alleviation, comfort

   Origin: from Old French 'relever', meaning 'to raise up, elevate', from Latin 'relevare', meaning 'to lift up, lighten'.

3. clarification · noun/ˌklær.ɪ.fɪˈkeɪ.ʃən/

   the act of making something clear or easier to understand

   The teacher provided clarification on the complex math problem to ensure all students understood the solution.

   Synonyms: explanation, elucidation

   Origin: Middle English, from Latin 'clarificatio', from 'clarificare', meaning 'to make clear'

4. emergence · noun/ɪˈmɜrdʒəns/

   the process of coming into view or becoming visible

   The emergence of new technologies has transformed the way we communicate and connect with each other.

   Synonyms: appearance, rise, manifestation

   Origin: from Latin 'emergentia', meaning 'a rising up'

5. discrepancy · noun/dɪsˈkrɛpənsi/

   a difference or inconsistency between two or more things

   There was a significant discrepancy between the reports submitted by the two departments, leading to confusion about the project’s actual progress.

   Synonyms: disparity, inconsistency, difference

   Origin: from Latin 'discrepantia', from 'discrepare' meaning 'to differ'