IELTS vocabulary
IELTS society vocabulary
Words for talking about communities, family, social change and inequality: common in Writing Task 2 and Speaking Part 3.
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
affluent adjective · formal
Having a lot of money and a high standard of living.
Affluent neighbourhoods often have better access to parks and high-quality services.
Collocations: affluent families · affluent neighbourhoods · relatively affluent
charity noun
An organisation that helps people in need, or the help it provides.
A local charity can provide essential services that public agencies may not offer.
Collocations: charity organisation · charity work · give to charity
community noun
People who live in the same area or share a common interest or identity.
A strong community can provide support for residents during difficult times.
Collocations: local community · community support · community services
crime rate noun phrase
The number of crimes committed in a place during a particular period.
Improved street lighting may help reduce the crime rate in residential areas.
Collocations: a high crime rate · reduce the crime rate · the local crime rate
diversity noun · academic
The presence of people with different backgrounds, characteristics or experiences in a group.
Greater diversity in the workplace can introduce a wider range of ideas and perspectives.
Collocations: cultural diversity · promote diversity · diversity of backgrounds
extended family noun phrase
A family group that includes relatives beyond parents and their children.
An extended family can provide practical support when parents are balancing work and childcare.
Collocations: extended family members · large extended family · extended family network
homelessness noun · academic
The condition of having no safe or permanent place to live.
Governments can tackle homelessness by increasing access to affordable housing and support services.
Collocations: tackle homelessness · homelessness rates · the causes of homelessness
household noun
All the people who live together in one home, or the home’s occupants as a unit.
Rising energy costs can place considerable pressure on low-income households.
Collocations: household income · household chores · household size
immigrant noun
A person who moves to another country to live there permanently or for a long time.
An immigrant may face difficulties when adapting to unfamiliar social customs and institutions.
Collocations: recent immigrant · immigrant communities · immigrant population
inequality noun · academic
An unfair difference in opportunities, treatment or resources between people or groups.
Reducing income inequality should be a priority for governments seeking a fairer society.
Collocations: income inequality · social inequality · inequality between groups
infrastructure noun · academic
The basic systems and facilities a society needs, such as roads, transport and water supply.
Investment in public infrastructure can improve access to education and healthcare.
Collocations: public infrastructure · transport infrastructure · investment in infrastructure
loneliness noun
An unhappy feeling caused by having few or no meaningful relationships.
Loneliness can affect people even when they live in crowded cities.
Collocations: combat loneliness · chronic loneliness · feelings of loneliness
migration noun · academic
The movement of people from one place to another, often to live or work.
Migration can help address labour shortages, although it may also increase demand for housing.
Collocations: rural-to-urban migration · patterns of migration · migration flows
neighbourhood noun
An area of a town or city where people live.
Reliable public transport can make a neighbourhood more attractive to families.
Collocations: residential neighbourhood · neighbourhood watch · neighbourhood residents
nuclear family noun phrase
A family consisting of two parents and their children, living as a single household.
The nuclear family remains common, although many people now live in other family arrangements.
Collocations: nuclear family structure · traditional nuclear family · nuclear family household
overcrowding noun · academic
A situation in which too many people live or gather in too little space.
Overcrowding in city housing can harm residents' health and quality of life.
Collocations: housing overcrowding · overcrowding in cities · reduce overcrowding
peer pressure noun phrase
Influence from people of a similar age or social group to behave in a particular way.
Peer pressure may encourage teenagers to take risks they would otherwise avoid.
Collocations: resist peer pressure · peer pressure to conform · the effects of peer pressure
pension noun
Regular money paid to someone after they stop working, often by the government or a former employer.
A reliable pension can help older people maintain a reasonable standard of living.
Collocations: state pension · private pension · pension scheme
petition noun
A formal written request, usually signed by many people, asking for action or change.
Residents submitted a petition asking the council to improve public transport links.
Collocations: sign a petition · submit a petition · petition campaign
poverty noun · formal
The condition of being very poor and unable to afford basic needs.
Governments can reduce poverty by improving access to education and secure employment.
Collocations: reduce poverty · live in poverty · poverty rate
retirement noun
The period of life when someone has stopped working, usually because of age.
Many people now plan their finances carefully to enjoy a comfortable retirement.
Collocations: early retirement · retirement age · retirement income
role model noun phrase
A person whose behaviour or achievements others admire and try to follow.
Teachers can be positive role models by demonstrating respect and responsibility in everyday situations.
Collocations: positive role model · serve as a role model · role model for young people
rural adjective · formal
Relating to the countryside rather than a town or city.
Rural residents may have to travel long distances to reach a hospital.
Collocations: rural area · rural community · rural development
tolerance noun · formal
Willingness to accept beliefs or behaviour that differ from one's own.
Schools can encourage tolerance by teaching pupils to discuss different viewpoints respectfully.
Collocations: religious tolerance · show tolerance · greater tolerance
upbringing noun
The way a person is cared for and taught as a child.
A supportive upbringing can help children develop confidence and respect for others.
Collocations: a strict upbringing · a stable upbringing · upbringing and education
volunteer verb
To offer to do something without being paid or forced to do it.
Students can volunteer to support older residents who live alone.
Collocations: volunteer for · volunteer to help · volunteer as
welfare noun · formal
The health, happiness and basic needs of people, or support provided to those in need.
Effective welfare programmes can help families cope with unemployment and rising living costs.
Collocations: social welfare · welfare benefits · welfare provision
Band 7 words
activism noun · formal
The use of direct action to bring about social or political change.
Online activism has made it easier for people to organise around shared concerns.
Collocations: political activism · environmental activism · activism campaign
ageing population noun phrase · academic
A population in which the proportion of older people is increasing.
An ageing population may increase demand for healthcare and place pressure on pension systems.
Collocations: an ageing population · support an ageing population · the needs of an ageing population
antisocial adjective · formal
Involving behaviour that harms or disturbs other people in a community.
Late-night noise is an antisocial behaviour that can seriously affect residents' quality of life.
Collocations: antisocial behaviour · antisocial conduct · antisocial attitudes
civic adjective · academic
Relating to the rights and responsibilities of people in a community.
Civic education helps young people understand how they can influence decisions in their communities.
Collocations: civic engagement · civic responsibility · civic participation
cohesion noun · academic
The state of being united and working well together as a society or group.
Shared public spaces can strengthen social cohesion by bringing people from different backgrounds together.
Collocations: social cohesion · community cohesion · promote cohesion
demographic noun · academic
A group of people who share a particular characteristic, such as age or income.
This demographic is more likely to rent than to purchase a home.
Collocations: younger demographic · target demographic · a particular demographic
dependency noun · formal
A situation in which someone relies on another person or thing for support.
Some critics argue that long-term unemployment can increase dependency on public assistance.
Collocations: dependency on · reduce dependency · economic dependency
deprivation noun · academic
A lack of basic needs or opportunities, such as adequate housing, education or income.
Living in deprivation can limit a child's health and educational prospects.
Collocations: social deprivation · material deprivation · areas of deprivation
deterrent noun · formal
Something that discourages people from doing something, especially breaking the law.
A visible police presence can act as a deterrent to street crime.
Collocations: act as a deterrent · a strong deterrent · an effective deterrent
discrimination noun · formal
Unfair treatment of a person or group because of who they are.
Stronger laws are needed to prevent discrimination in the workplace.
Collocations: racial discrimination · face discrimination · prevent discrimination
disparity noun · academic
A noticeable difference between groups, especially in their opportunities, income or living conditions.
The disparity in educational outcomes between wealthy and disadvantaged areas remains a serious concern.
Collocations: income disparity · social disparity · disparity between groups
equality noun · formal
The state of having the same rights, opportunities and treatment as others.
Equal access to education is essential for achieving greater equality in society.
Collocations: gender equality · promote equality · equality of opportunity
gender noun · academic
A person’s identity as male, female or another category, often shaped by society.
Schools should ensure that students of every gender feel safe and respected.
Collocations: gender equality · gender roles · gender gap
generation gap noun phrase
Differences in attitudes and experiences between younger and older people.
The generation gap can make discussions about technology and career choices difficult within families.
Collocations: bridge the generation gap · widen the generation gap · a generation gap
hierarchy noun · formal
A system in which people or groups are ranked according to status or authority.
A rigid social hierarchy can limit opportunities for people from disadvantaged backgrounds.
Collocations: social hierarchy · a clear hierarchy · hierarchy within a group
inclusion noun · formal
The practice of ensuring that everyone can participate and feels accepted.
Greater inclusion in the workplace can improve both employee wellbeing and organisational performance.
Collocations: social inclusion · promote inclusion · inclusion policy
integration noun · academic
The process of becoming included and participating fully in a society or group.
Language classes can support the integration of newcomers into their local communities.
Collocations: social integration · support integration · integration into society
isolation noun · formal
The state of being separated from other people or society.
Living in a remote area can lead to social isolation, particularly among older people.
Collocations: social isolation · feelings of isolation · isolation from society
livelihood noun · formal
The work or resources that provide someone with the money needed to live.
A decline in local tourism can threaten the livelihood of small business owners.
Collocations: earn a livelihood · source of livelihood · livelihood depends on
marginalised adjective · formal
Treated as unimportant or excluded from the opportunities and influence available to others.
Policies should ensure that marginalised groups can participate fully in public life.
Collocations: marginalised communities · marginalised groups · socially marginalised
minority group noun phrase · formal
A group of people who are smaller in number or have less power within a society.
Public services should consult each minority group when planning community support.
Collocations: minority group rights · members of a minority group · support a minority group
multicultural adjective · formal
Including or relating to people from several different cultural backgrounds.
A multicultural society can benefit from the exchange of different customs and perspectives.
Collocations: multicultural society · multicultural community · multicultural environment
prejudice noun · formal
An unfair opinion about someone formed without knowing enough about them.
Education can challenge prejudice and encourage people to understand different perspectives.
Collocations: racial prejudice · overcome prejudice · prejudice against
prevalent adjective · academic
Common or widespread in a particular place, group or period.
Digital communication is prevalent among young adults, although access is not universal.
Collocations: widely prevalent · prevalent among · increasingly prevalent
privilege noun · formal
An advantage or special right available to some people but not others.
Access to high-quality education should not be a privilege reserved for wealthy families.
Collocations: a position of privilege · enjoy privilege · privilege and opportunity
rehabilitation noun · formal
The process of helping someone return to a healthy or law-abiding life.
Rehabilitation programmes can give offenders the skills needed to find work after prison.
Collocations: prisoner rehabilitation · rehabilitation programmes · support rehabilitation
segregation noun · academic
The separation of people into groups, often resulting in unequal treatment or opportunities.
Residential segregation can limit access to good schools and public services for disadvantaged communities.
Collocations: racial segregation · residential segregation · end segregation
social norm noun phrase · academic
A customary rule or expectation that guides behaviour in a society.
A social norm can change over time as people challenge traditional expectations.
Collocations: challenge a social norm · follow a social norm · a widely accepted social norm
social status noun phrase · formal
A person's position or standing in society.
In some communities, educational achievement can significantly improve a person's social status.
Collocations: high social status · social status and wealth · gain social status
stereotype noun · academic
A fixed, oversimplified idea about what a particular group of people is like.
The media should avoid reinforcing the stereotype that older people cannot learn new skills.
Collocations: gender stereotype · challenge a stereotype · stereotype about
suburban adjective
Located in or relating to an area outside a city centre where people live.
Suburban areas often need better public transport links to reduce car use.
Collocations: suburban area · suburban housing · suburban community
taboo noun
A subject or behaviour that a society considers unacceptable to discuss or practise.
Mental illness was once a taboo subject, but public attitudes are gradually changing.
Collocations: a social taboo · break a taboo · remain a taboo
urbanisation noun · academic
The process by which more people move to cities and urban areas grow.
Rapid urbanisation can place considerable pressure on housing and public transport.
Collocations: rapid urbanisation · urbanisation rate · the effects of urbanisation
vandalism noun · formal
The deliberate damage of public or private property.
Community projects may reduce vandalism by encouraging residents to take pride in their neighbourhood.
Collocations: acts of vandalism · prevent vandalism · vandalism in public spaces
vulnerable adjective · formal
More likely than others to be harmed, affected or in need of help.
Older people without family support may be particularly vulnerable during extreme weather.
Collocations: vulnerable people · vulnerable to harm · protect vulnerable groups
Band 8+ words
conformity noun · academic
Behaviour that follows the accepted rules or customs of a group.
Excessive conformity may discourage young people from expressing independent opinions.
Collocations: social conformity · enforce conformity · conformity to social norms
entitlement noun · formal
The belief that one deserves special treatment or benefits, sometimes without justification.
A strong sense of entitlement can make it difficult for young people to accept criticism.
Collocations: a sense of entitlement · a culture of entitlement · feel a sense of entitlement
gentrification noun · academic
The process in which an area becomes wealthier, often forcing existing residents to move away.
Gentrification may improve local facilities but can also make housing unaffordable for long-term residents.
Collocations: urban gentrification · the effects of gentrification · gentrification of an area
grassroots adjective · formal
Organised or supported by ordinary people in a community rather than by leaders.
Grassroots campaigns can draw attention to local problems that larger organisations have overlooked.
Collocations: grassroots movement · grassroots campaign · grassroots support
individualism noun · academic
The belief that personal freedom and independence are more important than group interests.
Individualism can promote creativity, although it may sometimes weaken community ties.
Collocations: a culture of individualism · promote individualism · individualism and independence
juvenile delinquency noun phrase · formal
Criminal or antisocial behaviour by young people.
Family support and education can help prevent juvenile delinquency.
Collocations: tackle juvenile delinquency · juvenile delinquency rates · the causes of juvenile delinquency
philanthropy noun · academic
The practice of giving money, time or resources to improve other people’s lives.
Private philanthropy can fund community projects, although it should not replace public services.
Collocations: private philanthropy · corporate philanthropy · philanthropy sector
social mobility noun phrase · academic
The ability of people to improve or change their position in society.
Affordable education can promote social mobility by giving disadvantaged students better career prospects.
Collocations: promote social mobility · upward social mobility · barriers to social mobility
solidarity noun · formal
Unity and mutual support among people with shared interests or difficulties.
Public demonstrations can express solidarity with workers seeking safer conditions.
Collocations: show solidarity · international solidarity · a sense of solidarity
upward mobility noun phrase · academic
The ability to improve one's social or economic position over time.
Access to quality education can increase upward mobility for children from low-income households.
Collocations: upward social mobility · economic upward mobility · promote upward mobility
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