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anecdote

noun/ˈæn.ɪk.doʊt/

definition

a short personal story or account of an event

example

During the family reunion, my grandmother shared a hilarious anecdote about her adventures as a young girl.

synonyms
story,tale,narrative
word origin — derived from the Greek word 'anekdota,' meaning 'things unpublished.'

IELTS Vocabulary — Set 42

Set 42 of IELTS Vocabulary covers 5 words: anecdote, rebel, protectiveness, rationality, awareness. Each entry below includes its definition, an example sentence, and synonyms — practice them with the interactive cards above.

  1. anecdote · noun/ˈæn.ɪk.doʊt/

    a short personal story or account of an event

    During the family reunion, my grandmother shared a hilarious anecdote about her adventures as a young girl.

    Synonyms: story,tale,narrative

    Origin: derived from the Greek word 'anekdota,' meaning 'things unpublished.'

  2. rebel · noun/ˈrɛbəl/

    a person who resists authority control or tradition

    The young rebel challenged the school's strict dress code, insisting on expressing her individuality.

    Synonyms: insurgent, dissenter, nonconformist

    Origin: from Middle English 'rebelle', from Old French 'rebelle', from Latin 'rebellis', from 'rebellare' meaning 'to rebel'.

  3. protectiveness · noun/prəˈtɛktɪvnis/

    the quality of safeguarding or defending someone or something from harm or danger

    Her protectiveness over her children was evident when she intervened during the playfight to ensure they didn't get hurt.

    Synonyms: guardianship, safeguarding, defensiveness

    Origin: The word 'protectiveness' originates from the Latin word 'protectus', which is the past participle of 'protegere', meaning 'to cover in front' or 'to shield'.

  4. rationality · noun/ˌræʃ.əˈnæl.ɪ.ti/

    the quality of being based on or agreeable to reason or logic

    The decision was made with careful consideration of rationality, ensuring that every choice was logical and evidence-based.

    Synonyms: reasonableness, logic, coherence

    Origin: from Latin 'rationalitas', from 'rationalis' meaning 'rational'

  5. awareness · noun/əˈwɛrnəs/

    knowledge or perception of a situation or fact

    Raising public awareness about climate change is essential for encouraging sustainable practices.

    Synonyms: consciousness, perception, realization

    Origin: from the adjective 'aware', which comes from the Old English 'awær' meaning 'vigilant, watchful'