tertiary, vocational, compulsory, literate, privileged: meanings and examples

Learn these 5 words from Upper-Intermediate set 59. Each entry includes a definition, example sentence, pronunciation, and synonyms. Use the interactive cards above to practice them.

1. tertiary · adjective/ˈtərʃiˌɛri/

   coming after secondary education

   Tertiary education is a term used for any type of education that individuals get beyond the high school level.

   Synonyms: post-secondary

   Origin: mid 16th century (in tertiary): from Latin tertiarius ‘of the third part or rank’, from tertius ‘third’

2. vocational · adjective/voʊˈkeɪʃ(ə)nəl/

   providing training in special skills

   Vocational and technical schools were introduced to fulfill the constant need of labor in the developing industry.

   Synonyms: occupational

3. compulsory · adjective/kəmˈpəlsəri/

   required by rule

   Compulsory elementary education has definitely increased the number of literate people in the nation.

   Synonyms: mandatory, obligatory

   Origin: early 16th century (as a noun denoting a legal mandate which had to be obeyed): from medieval Latin compulsorius, from compuls- ‘driven, forced’, from the verb compellere (see compel)

4. literate · adjective/ˈlɪdərət/

   able to read and write or expert in a specific area

   A politically literate society is able to differentiate between fake news and real ones and this can only be achieved through education.

   Synonyms: educated

   Origin: late Middle English: from Latin litteratus, from littera (see letter)

5. privileged · adjective/ˈprɪv(ə)lɪdʒd/

   having special advantages or opportunities that others may not have

   Eton College is believed to accept students who are of a privileged social background.

   Synonyms: empowered, advantaged