imaginative, confidential, spontaneous, prevalent, intrinsic: meanings and examples

Learn these 5 words from IELTS Vocabulary set 38. Each entry includes a definition, example sentence, pronunciation, and synonyms. Use the interactive cards above to practice them.

1. imaginative · adjective/ɪˈmædʒənətɪv/

   having or showing creativity or inventiveness

   The children's imaginative storytelling captivated everyone at the campfire.

   Synonyms: creative, inventive, visionary

   Origin: from Middle French 'imaginatif' and Latin 'imaginari', meaning 'to form an image' or 'to picture'

2. confidential · adjective/ˌkɑːnfɪˈdɛnʃəl/

   intended to be kept secret or private

   She signed a non-disclosure agreement to ensure that all shared information remained confidential during the project.

   Synonyms: secret, private, classified

   Origin: The word 'confidential' comes from the Latin 'confidentialis', which means 'trusted' or 'entrusted', derived from 'confidere', meaning 'to trust'.

3. spontaneous · adjective/spɑnˈteɪ.nəs/

   occurring without external cause or premeditation

   Her laughter was spontaneous, ringing out without any prompt from the conversation.

   Synonyms: impromptu, unplanned, automatic

   Origin: from Latin 'spontaneus', meaning 'of one's own free will', from 'sponte' meaning 'of free will, voluntarily'

4. prevalent · adjective/ˈprɛv.ə.lənt/

   widespread or commonly occurring

   Obesity has become a prevalent public health issue in many developed countries.

   Synonyms: common, widespread, frequent

   Origin: From Latin 'praevalent-' (present participle of 'praevalere'), meaning 'to be strong, to be prevalent'.

5. intrinsic · adjective/ɪnˈtrɪn.zɪk/

   belonging to the essential nature or constitution of a thing

   The intrinsic value of art lies in its ability to evoke emotions and inspire creativity.

   Synonyms: innate, inherent, essential

   Origin: The word 'intrinsic' comes from the Latin 'intrinsecus', meaning 'inward' or 'internal'.