IELTS Vocabulary — Set 90

Set 90 of IELTS Vocabulary covers 5 words: predisposition, prohibition, overlap, litigation, delegation. Each entry below includes its definition, an example sentence, and synonyms — practice them with the interactive cards above.

1. predisposition · noun/ˌpriːdɪspəˈzɪʃən/

   a tendency to behave in a certain way or to develop a particular characteristic

   His predisposition to anxiety made it difficult for him to manage stress effectively.

   Synonyms: inclination,tendency,proclivity

   Origin: Late Latin 'praedispotio', from 'praedispōnere', meaning 'to arrange in advance'.

2. prohibition · noun/ˌproʊɪˈbɪʃən/

   the act of forbidding something by law or authority

   The prohibition of alcohol during the 1920s led to a rise in illegal speakeasies.

   Synonyms: ban, restriction, embargo

   Origin: from Latin 'prohibitio', from 'prohibere' meaning 'to hold back'

3. overlap · noun/ˈoʊ.vɚ.læp/

   the extent to which two or more things share common elements

   There is a significant overlap between the two research studies, suggesting they may address similar questions.

   Synonyms: intersection, correlation, convergence

   Origin: from Middle English 'overlappen', from Old English 'oferlappian', which combines 'ofer' meaning 'over' and 'lappian' meaning 'to fold' or 'to layer'

4. litigation · noun/ˌlɪtɪˈɡeɪʃən/

   the process of taking legal action in a court

   The company decided to pursue litigation against the competitor for breach of contract.

   Synonyms: lawsuit, legal action, court case

   Origin: from Latin 'litigatio', meaning 'a suing, a dispute', from 'litigare' meaning 'to dispute, to quarrel'

5. delegation · noun/ˌdɛlɪˈɡeɪʃən/

   the act of assigning responsibility or authority to another person

   Effective delegation of tasks can significantly improve team productivity and morale.

   Synonyms: assignment, delegation, transfer

   Origin: Late Middle English: from Latin delegatio(n-), from delegare 'to send as a representative'