election, argument, balance, arrangement, candidate: meanings and examples

Learn these 5 words from Intermediate set 96. Each entry includes a definition, example sentence, pronunciation, and synonyms. Use the interactive cards above to practice them.

1. election · noun/əˈlɛkʃən/

   an occasion when people vote to choose someone for an official position

   Millions of people voted in the election to choose their next leader.

   Synonyms: vote, poll, ballot

   Origin: Middle English: via Old French from Latin electio(n-), from eligere ‘pick out’ (see elect)

2. argument · noun/ˈɑrɡjəmənt/

   a situation in which people strongly disagree with each other

   Teenagers and their parents sometimes have argıments over rules, curfews, and how much independence they should have.

   Synonyms: disagreement, dispute, quarrel

   Origin: Middle English (in the sense ‘process of reasoning’): via Old French from Latin argumentum, from arguere ‘make clear, prove, accuse’

3. balance · noun/ˈbæləns/

   a steady position, or a situation in which things exist in the correct amounts

   There are some exercises that you can do at home to improve your balance and stability.

   Synonyms: steadiness, stability

   Origin: Middle English (in balance (sense 3 of the noun)): from Old French balance (noun), balancer (verb), based on late Latin (libra) bilanx ‘(balance) having two scale pans’, from bi- ‘twice, having two’ + lanx ‘scale pan’

4. arrangement · noun/əˈreɪndʒmənt/

   a plan or preparation made for something to happen or for something to be organized

   The company made an arrangement with a local hotel to provide accommodation for employees attending the conference.

   Synonyms: plan, preparation, agreement

5. candidate · noun/ˈkæn(d)əˌdeɪt/

   a person who is competing for a job or in an election

   The company announced on its website that the successful candidate would be contacted after all the interviews had been finalized.

   Synonyms: applicant, nominee

   Origin: early 17th century: from Latin candidatus ‘white-robed’, also denoting a candidate for office (who traditionally wore a white toga), from candidus ‘white’