IELTS vocabulary
IELTS culture vocabulary
Words for traditions, arts, media and heritage, for Speaking questions on hobbies, festivals and the arts.
Each entry has the typical band it's useful for, a plain meaning, an example sentence and the words it most often goes with. Learn the collocations along with the word: that's what makes vocabulary sound natural.
Band 6 words
advertising noun · academic
The activity of promoting products or services to encourage people to buy them.
Advertising aimed at children should be carefully regulated to discourage unhealthy habits.
Collocations: online advertising · advertising campaign · advertising industry
architecture noun · academic
The design and style of buildings.
Good architecture can make public spaces both attractive and practical.
Collocations: modern architecture · traditional architecture · architecture of a building
audience noun
The people who watch, listen to, or read a particular piece of media or performance.
A large audience now discovers new music through online platforms.
Collocations: target audience · audience participation · audience numbers
broadcast noun
A programme or message sent out by radio or television.
The broadcast reached a large audience and prompted discussion about the issue.
Collocations: live broadcast · radio broadcast · broadcast interview
celebrity noun
A famous person, especially one who is often seen in the media.
A celebrity can use their public profile to draw attention to a worthwhile cause.
Collocations: celebrity culture · celebrity status · celebrity endorsement
ceremony noun
A formal event held to mark an important occasion.
The graduation ceremony gave students and their families an opportunity to celebrate their achievements.
Collocations: opening ceremony · official ceremony · attend a ceremony
cinema noun
The art of making films or a place where films are shown.
Cinema can bring people together through stories that appeal to different generations.
Collocations: cinema audience · cinema industry · go to the cinema
commercial adjective
Related to business, advertising, or the buying and selling of goods and services.
Commercial television often relies on advertising to fund its programmes.
Collocations: commercial television · commercial interests · commercial success
creative adjective
Involving imagination and original ideas, especially in producing art or solving problems.
Schools should give students more opportunities to develop creative skills through music, design and drama.
Collocations: creative industries · creative approach · creative talent
custom noun
A usual way of behaving within a particular society or community.
Removing shoes before entering a home is a common custom in some communities.
Collocations: local custom · traditional custom · observe a custom
documentary noun
A film or programme that presents facts about a real subject.
A documentary can make complex environmental problems easier for the public to understand.
Collocations: documentary film · documentary maker · documentary about a subject
entertainment noun
Activities or performances that people enjoy watching or taking part in.
Online platforms offer convenient entertainment, although they can reduce time spent outdoors.
Collocations: live entertainment · entertainment industry · form of entertainment
fame noun
The state of being known by many people.
Fame may bring financial opportunities, but it can also make privacy difficult to maintain.
Collocations: achieve fame · rise to fame · fame and fortune
fashion noun
A popular style of clothing, appearance, or behaviour at a particular time.
Fashion can reflect changes in social values as well as personal taste.
Collocations: fashion industry · fashion trend · high fashion
festival noun
A public event that celebrates a particular activity, idea or tradition.
A local festival can attract visitors while giving residents a chance to celebrate their heritage.
Collocations: music festival · annual festival · festival atmosphere
gallery noun
A place where works of art are displayed or sold.
The new gallery gives local artists a valuable opportunity to exhibit their work.
Collocations: art gallery · gallery exhibition · visit a gallery
headline noun
The title of a news story, printed or displayed in large letters.
A misleading headline can shape readers’ opinions before they read the full article.
Collocations: news headline · front-page headline · sensational headline
heritage noun · formal
The traditions, buildings and history passed down through generations.
Protecting architectural heritage can help communities maintain a connection with their past.
Collocations: cultural heritage · heritage sites · preserve heritage
influence noun
The power to affect how someone thinks, behaves, or makes decisions.
Social media has a considerable influence on the way young people follow fashion.
Collocations: have an influence on · cultural influence · lasting influence
monument noun · formal
A building or structure that is important because of its history or cultural value.
The city should maintain each monument because it helps residents understand their shared history.
Collocations: historic monument · national monument · monument to a person
museum noun
A building where objects of historical, scientific or artistic interest are displayed.
A well-designed museum can make complex historical events accessible to young visitors.
Collocations: history museum · museum collection · visit a museum
novel noun
A long fictional story written in book form.
A well-written novel can encourage readers to reflect on difficult social issues.
Collocations: historical novel · read a novel · a novel by an author
theatre noun
The art of acting in plays or a building where plays are performed.
Theatre gives audiences a chance to experience stories being performed live.
Collocations: live theatre · theatre production · theatre audience
tradition noun
A belief or practice passed from one generation to another.
The tradition of sharing meals can strengthen relationships between family members.
Collocations: follow a tradition · local tradition · break with tradition
trend noun
A general direction in which something is developing or changing.
One recent trend is for museums to offer interactive digital exhibits.
Collocations: emerging trend · fashion trend · follow a trend
viewer noun
A person who watches a television programme, film, or online video.
Many viewers prefer documentaries that explore social issues in depth.
Collocations: regular viewer · television viewer · viewer numbers
Band 7 words
art form noun phrase
A particular type of creative activity, such as painting, dance, or music.
Some people regard photography as an art form that can document social change.
Collocations: traditional art form · new art form · recognise something as an art form
artefact noun · academic
An object made or used by people in the past, especially one of historical interest.
Each artefact in the collection provides evidence about how people lived centuries ago.
Collocations: ancient artefact · historical artefact · artefact collection
bias noun · academic
An unfair preference for or against a person, group, or point of view.
Readers should consider whether bias has affected the way a story is presented.
Collocations: political bias · media bias · bias against a group
cuisine noun
A style of cooking associated with a particular place or culture.
Local cuisine can attract visitors and help them understand a region's history and way of life.
Collocations: local cuisine · traditional cuisine · cuisine from
cultural diversity noun phrase · academic
The presence of different cultural traditions, languages, and ways of life within a society.
Cultural diversity can enrich the arts by bringing a wider range of perspectives.
Collocations: promote cultural diversity · celebrate cultural diversity · cultural diversity in the arts
cultural exchange noun phrase · academic
The sharing of ideas, customs and knowledge between different cultures.
Student exchange programmes can promote cultural exchange and increase mutual understanding.
Collocations: promote cultural exchange · encourage cultural exchange · cultural exchange programmes
cultural heritage noun phrase · formal
The traditions, objects, and practices passed down through generations within a community.
Museums can help preserve cultural heritage for future generations.
Collocations: preserve cultural heritage · protect cultural heritage · cultural heritage site
cultural identity noun phrase · academic
A sense of belonging shaped by shared culture, history and traditions.
Language plays an important role in maintaining cultural identity among younger generations.
Collocations: strong cultural identity · sense of cultural identity · preserve cultural identity
customs and traditions noun phrase
The usual practices and beliefs passed down within a society or community.
Festivals help younger generations learn about the customs and traditions of their community.
Collocations: preserve customs and traditions · respect customs and traditions · customs and traditions of
exhibition noun · formal
A public display of objects, artworks or information.
The exhibition encouraged visitors to consider how technology has changed everyday life.
Collocations: art exhibition · temporary exhibition · hold an exhibition
handicraft noun
An object made by hand, usually using traditional skills and materials.
Producing handicraft can provide a valuable source of income for people in rural communities.
Collocations: traditional handicraft · handicraft market · handicraft production
influencer noun
A person whose online content can affect other people's opinions or choices.
An influencer can encourage more responsible consumption by promoting durable products.
Collocations: social media influencer · online influencer · influencer marketing
journalism noun · academic
The work of gathering, writing and reporting news.
Reliable journalism helps people make informed decisions about important public issues.
Collocations: investigative journalism · professional journalism · journalism ethics
literature noun · academic
Written works, especially those valued for their artistic quality.
Studying literature can help young people understand experiences beyond their own.
Collocations: world literature · classical literature · literature of a period
lose touch with phrase
To gradually stop knowing about or communicating with someone or something.
People who move abroad may lose touch with the customs they grew up with.
Collocations: lose touch with family · lose touch with reality · lose touch with traditions
mainstream adjective · formal
Accepted by or familiar to most people, rather than unusual or alternative.
Streaming services have brought independent films into mainstream entertainment.
Collocations: mainstream media · mainstream culture · mainstream appeal
mass media noun · academic
Forms of communication that reach large numbers of people.
Mass media can shape public opinion by deciding which issues receive attention.
Collocations: mass media coverage · mass media influence · mass media outlet
masterpiece noun · formal
A work of art or literature considered exceptionally skilful or important.
The exhibition includes a masterpiece that has influenced generations of artists.
Collocations: literary masterpiece · artistic masterpiece · regard something as a masterpiece
media coverage noun phrase · formal
The attention and reporting that newspapers, television, or online outlets give to an event or issue.
Extensive media coverage can bring attention to artists who might otherwise remain unknown.
Collocations: extensive media coverage · media coverage of an event · negative media coverage
objective adjective · academic
Based on facts rather than personal opinions or feelings.
A reliable reviewer should aim to provide an objective assessment of a film.
Collocations: objective analysis · objective assessment · remain objective
performing arts noun · formal
Forms of art, such as dance and drama, presented to an audience.
Schools should give students opportunities to take part in the performing arts.
Collocations: performing arts centre · performing arts education · performing arts industry
poetry noun · academic
Writing that uses rhythm, sound and carefully chosen language to express ideas or feelings.
Poetry can communicate emotions in a way that ordinary conversation sometimes cannot.
Collocations: contemporary poetry · write poetry · a collection of poetry
pop culture noun phrase
The music, films, fashion, and other entertainment popular with many people.
Pop culture can introduce audiences to ideas from different communities.
Collocations: pop culture icon · pop culture phenomenon · influence of pop culture
preservation noun · academic
The act of protecting something from damage, loss or change.
The preservation of historic buildings can strengthen a community’s sense of identity.
Collocations: preservation of heritage · preservation of historic buildings · cultural preservation
readership noun · formal
The people who regularly read a particular newspaper, magazine, or publication.
The newspaper has expanded its readership by publishing articles online.
Collocations: younger readership · loyal readership · readership figures
restoration noun · formal
The process of repairing something and returning it to its earlier condition.
The restoration of the old theatre has made it a popular venue again.
Collocations: restoration of a building · historic restoration · restoration project
ritual noun · formal
A repeated action or set of actions performed in a particular way.
For many people, a daily reading ritual provides a welcome moment of calm.
Collocations: religious ritual · daily ritual · perform a ritual
sponsorship noun · formal
Financial or practical support given to an event, person, or organisation in return for recognition.
Sponsorship can help museums offer free admission to the public.
Collocations: corporate sponsorship · sponsorship deal · sponsorship of an event
subjective adjective · academic
Based on personal opinions, feelings, or experiences rather than facts alone.
Art criticism is often subjective, since people respond to works in different ways.
Collocations: subjective opinion · subjective experience · highly subjective
tabloid noun
A newspaper that is usually small in size and focuses on popular stories and celebrities.
A tabloid may prioritise sensational stories over detailed analysis.
Collocations: tabloid newspaper · tabloid journalism · tabloid press
the press noun · formal
Newspapers, journalists and other organisations that report news to the public.
The press can hold powerful organisations accountable by investigating their actions.
Collocations: freedom of the press · coverage in the press · criticised in the press
viral adjective · informal
Spread rapidly and widely, especially through online sharing.
A short video can go viral and bring attention to an issue that receives little media coverage.
Collocations: go viral · viral video · viral content
Band 8+ words
aesthetic adjective · academic
Related to beauty, appearance or the appreciation of art.
The building has considerable aesthetic appeal, and its design also makes effective use of natural light.
Collocations: aesthetic appeal · aesthetic value · aesthetic qualities
censorship noun · academic
The control or removal of information that people are allowed to see or hear.
Excessive censorship can prevent the public from accessing important information.
Collocations: government censorship · media censorship · censorship of the press
folklore noun · formal
Traditional stories, beliefs and customs shared within a community.
Folklore can preserve local beliefs and values even when they are no longer widely practised.
Collocations: local folklore · traditional folklore · folklore stories
indigenous adjective · academic
Originally belonging to a particular place rather than arriving from elsewhere.
Museums should consult indigenous communities before displaying culturally significant objects.
Collocations: indigenous people · indigenous culture · indigenous languages
westernisation noun · formal
The adoption of ideas and practices associated with Western societies.
Some people worry that rapid westernisation may weaken distinctive local traditions.
Collocations: rapid westernisation · effects of westernisation · westernisation of society
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