Society and Politics

Precise vocabulary for discussing public life: how societies govern themselves, how opinion forms and divides, and how policy affects people. Essential for reading quality journalism and for IELTS Band 8+ discussions of social issues.

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Word List

Word	Phonetic	Part of Speech	Definition	Example
polarization	/ˌpəʊləraɪˈzeɪʃn/	noun	The division of a group or society into two sharply opposing sides	Social media has been blamed for deepening political polarization.
partisan	/ˌpɑːtɪˈzæn/	adjective	Strongly supporting one party or side, often without considering others fairly	The debate quickly became a partisan fight rather than a discussion of the evidence.
electorate	/ɪˈlektərət/	noun	All the people in a country or area who are entitled to vote	Older voters make up a growing share of the electorate.
grassroots	/ˈɡrɑːsruːts/	adjective	Organized by ordinary people at a local level rather than by leaders or institutions	What began as a grassroots campaign eventually changed national law.
marginalized	/ˈmɑːdʒɪnəlaɪzd/	adjective	Treated as unimportant and pushed to the edge of society, with little power	The program aims to give marginalized communities a stronger voice in planning.
disenfranchised	/ˌdɪsɪnˈfræntʃaɪzd/	adjective	Deprived of the right to vote or of power and influence	Many young people feel disenfranchised by a system that seems to ignore them.
consensus	/kənˈsensəs/	noun	General agreement among a group	There is a broad consensus among scientists on the causes of the problem.
populism	/ˈpɒpjəlɪzəm/	noun	Politics that claims to represent ordinary people against a corrupt or distant elite	The rise of populism has reshaped party politics in several countries.
accountability	/əˌkaʊntəˈbɪləti/	noun	The obligation of those in power to explain and take responsibility for their actions	A free press is essential for government accountability.
legislation	/ˌledʒɪsˈleɪʃn/	noun	Laws, considered collectively, or the process of making them	New legislation will require landlords to register all rental units.
civic	/ˈsɪvɪk/	adjective	Relating to a city or to the duties and activities of citizens	Volunteering and voting are forms of civic engagement.
social mobility	/ˌsəʊʃl məʊˈbɪləti/	noun	The ability of people to move between social or economic classes	Access to affordable university education is a key driver of social mobility.
backlash	/ˈbæklæʃ/	noun	A strong negative reaction by many people against a change or development	The fare increase provoked a backlash from commuters.
entrenched	/ɪnˈtrentʃt/	adjective	Firmly established and very difficult to change	Entrenched inequality cannot be solved by a single policy.
discourse	/ˈdɪskɔːs/	noun	The way a subject is discussed in public, including the language and ideas used	Public discourse on immigration has become increasingly heated.
welfare state	/ˌwelfeə ˈsteɪt/	noun	A system in which the government provides services and financial support such as healthcare and pensions	An ageing population puts pressure on the welfare state.

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