inferior, hypocritical, liberal, corporate, diverse: meanings and examples

Learn these 5 words from IELTS Vocabulary set 84. Each entry includes a definition, example sentence, pronunciation, and synonyms. Use the interactive cards above to practice them.

1. inferior · adjective/ɪnˈfɪriər/

   lower in rank, status, or quality

   Many people believe that the quality of inferior goods tends to be lower than that of superior products.

   Synonyms: subordinate, lesser, subordinate

   Origin: from Latin 'inferior', meaning 'lower', from 'inferus' meaning 'low'

2. hypocritical · adjective/ˌhɪpəˈkrɪtɪkəl/

   behaving in a way that suggests one has higher moral standards or beliefs than is the case

   His hypocritical behavior was evident when he criticized others for their spending habits while consistently overspending himself.

   Synonyms: insincere, duplicitous, two-faced

   Origin: from the Greek 'hypokritēs', meaning 'an actor' or 'one who interprets', from 'hypokrinesthai' meaning 'to answer, to reply'.

3. liberal · adjective/ˈlɪbərəl/

   favoring progress and reform in political and social matters

   The new policy reflects a liberal approach to education reform, emphasizing inclusivity and accessibility for all students.

   Synonyms: progressive, reformist, open-minded

   Origin: from Old French 'liberal', from Latin 'liberalis', from 'liber' meaning 'free'

4. corporate · adjective/ˈkɔːr.pɚ.ɪt/

   relating to a large company or group

   The corporate strategy of the company focuses on sustainability and innovation in its products.

   Synonyms: business, commercial, organizational

   Origin: from Latin 'corporatus' meaning 'formed into a body', derived from 'corpus' meaning 'body'

5. diverse · adjective/dɪˈvɝːs/

   showing a great deal of variety or differences

   The conference attracted a diverse group of participants from various backgrounds and professions.

   Synonyms: varied, different, assorted

   Origin: from Latin diversus, meaning 'turned different ways, different, varied'