IELTS Vocabulary — Set 99

Set 99 of IELTS Vocabulary covers 5 words: commodity, complacency, inclusiveness, worship, hypothesis. Each entry below includes its definition, an example sentence, and synonyms — practice them with the interactive cards above.

1. commodity · noun/kəˈmɑː.dɪ.ti/

   a basic good used in commerce that is interchangeable with other goods of the same type

   The price of oil, a vital commodity, fluctuates based on global supply and demand.

   Synonyms: product, good, merchandise

   Origin: from the Latin 'commoditas', meaning 'convenience, advantage', from 'commodus' meaning 'convenient, suitable'.

2. complacency · noun/kəmˈpleɪsənsi/

   a feeling of satisfaction with one's achievements that can prevent further progress

   The team's recent victories led to a sense of complacency, causing them to overlook their training routines.

   Synonyms: smugness, self-satisfaction, complacence

   Origin: The word 'complacency' originates from the Latin 'complacentia', which means 'pleasantness', derived from 'complacens', the present participle of 'complacere', meaning 'to please' or 'to satisfy'.

3. inclusiveness · noun/ɪnˈkluːsɪv.nəs/

   the quality of including all types of people and treating them fairly and equally

   The organization's commitment to inclusiveness creates a welcoming environment for employees from diverse backgrounds.

   Synonyms: acceptance, openness, fairness

   Origin: The word ‘inclusiveness’ comes from the Latin ‘inclusus’, meaning ‘to shut in, to enclose’, combined with the suffix -ness, which forms nouns indicating a state or quality.

4. worship · noun/ˈwɜrʃɪp/

   the feeling or expression of reverence and adoration for a deity

   The ancient temple was a place of worship for the local community, where they gathered to express their devotion and reverence.

   Synonyms: adoration, veneration, reverence

   Origin: Middle English 'worshippe', from Old English 'wīrspæ', from 'weorþ' meaning 'worth' and 'scipe' meaning 'ship' or 'condition'.

5. hypothesis · noun/haɪˈpɑθəsɪs/

   a proposed explanation or educated guess based on limited evidence as a starting point for further investigation

   The scientist proposed a hypothesis to explain the unusual behavior of the flock of birds during the migration season.

   Synonyms: theory, conjecture, assumption

   Origin: from the Greek 'hypothesis', meaning 'foundation, conjecture', from 'hypo-' meaning 'under' and 'thesis' meaning 'a placing, a proposition'.