Society & Law
Words for rules, society, government, and community
Overview
25 A2 words for talking about rules, the law, government, and how society works.
Words
according /əˈkɔːdɪŋ/
preposition — A2
Meaning: as stated by someone or shown by something
Examples:
- According to the news, it will rain tomorrow.
- According to the rules, you can’t park here.
Collocations: according to, according to the plan
amount /əˈmaʊnt/
noun — A2
Meaning: how much of something there is
Examples:
- We spent a large amount of money.
- The amount of waste is shocking.
Collocations: amount of, large amount, small amount, total amount
campaign /kæmˈpeɪn/
noun, verb — A2
Meaning: organized activities to achieve a goal
Examples:
- They launched an advertising campaign.
- She campaigned for equal rights.
Collocations: election campaign, advertising campaign, campaign for
citizen /ˈsɪtɪzn/
noun — A2
Meaning: a legal member of a country
Examples:
- She became a British citizen last year.
- Every citizen has the right to vote.
Collocations: senior citizen, citizen of, fellow citizen
Word Family: citizen (n.) → citizenship (n.)
community /kəˈmjuːnəti/
noun — A2
Meaning: the people living in a particular area; a group with shared interests
Examples:
- It’s a close-knit community.
- The local community organized a festival.
Collocations: local community, community centre, community service
court /kɔːt/
noun — A2
Meaning: a place where legal cases are heard; a sports area
Examples:
- He appeared in court last Tuesday.
- Shall we book a tennis court?
Collocations: court case, go to court, court order, tennis court
crime /kraɪm/
noun — A2
Meaning: an action that is against the law
Examples:
- Crime rates have fallen this year.
- Stealing is a crime.
Collocations: commit a crime, crime rate, crime scene
Word Family: crime (n.) → criminal (n./adj.)
election /ɪˈlekʃn/
noun — A2
Meaning: a process of choosing someone by voting
Examples:
- The election is next month.
- She won the election easily.
Collocations: general election, win an election, election day
Word Family: election (n.) → elect (v.)
environment /ɪnˈvaɪrənmənt/
noun — A2
Meaning: the natural world; the conditions around you
Examples:
- We must protect the environment.
- A safe working environment is important.
Collocations: natural environment, working environment, protect the environment
Word Family: environment (n.) → environmental (adj.) → environmentally (adv.)
government /ˈɡʌvənmənt/
noun — A2
Meaning: the group of people who officially control a country
Examples:
- The government announced new policies.
- She works for the government.
Collocations: local government, central government, government policy
Word Family: government (n.) → govern (v.) → governor (n.)
judge /dʒʌdʒ/
noun, verb — A2
Meaning: (n.) an official in charge of a court; (v.) to form an opinion
Examples:
- The judge gave a fair sentence.
- Don’t judge people by their appearance.
Collocations: judge a case, judge by, judge fairly
Word Family: judge (n./v.) → judgment (n.)
law /lɔː/
noun — A2
Meaning: the rules of a country that everyone must obey
Examples:
- It’s against the law to drive too fast.
- She’s studying law at university.
Collocations: break the law, against the law, law and order, by law
Word Family: law (n.) → lawyer (n.) → legal (adj.) → illegal (adj.)
leader /ˈliːdər/
noun — A2
Meaning: a person who leads a group or organization
Examples:
- She’s the leader of the team.
- The country needs a strong leader.
Collocations: team leader, world leader, leader of
Word Family: leader (n.) → lead (v.) → leadership (n.)
offer /ˈɒfər/
verb, noun — A2
Meaning: (v.) to say you are willing to do or give something; (n.) something proposed
Examples:
- She offered to help me.
- The offer was too good to refuse.
Collocations: job offer, special offer, offer help, offer to do
opinion /əˈpɪnjən/
noun — A2
Meaning: what someone thinks about something
Examples:
- In my opinion, this is wrong.
- Everyone has a different opinion.
Collocations: public opinion, in my opinion, strong opinion
police /pəˈliːs/
noun — A2
Meaning: the official organization responsible for enforcing laws
Examples:
- Call the police!
- The police are investigating the crime.
Collocations: police officer, police station, police car, call the police
political /pəˈlɪtɪkl/
adjective — A2
Meaning: relating to government or public affairs
Examples:
- The political situation is unstable.
- She has strong political views.
Collocations: political party, political leader, political system
Word Family: political (adj.) → politics (n.) → politician (n.) → politically (adv.)
power /ˈpaʊər/
noun — A2
Meaning: control or authority; the ability to do something
Examples:
- The president has a lot of power.
- Knowledge is power.
Collocations: political power, power supply, in power, power of
Word Family: power (n.) → powerful (adj.) → powerless (adj.)
protect /prəˈtekt/
verb — A2
Meaning: to keep safe from harm or danger
Examples:
- We need to protect the environment.
- The wall protects the garden from wind.
Collocations: protect from, protect against, protect the environment
Word Family: protect (v.) → protection (n.) → protective (adj.)
public /ˈpʌblɪk/
adjective, noun — A2
Meaning: (adj.) for everyone; (n.) people in general
Examples:
- The park is open to the public.
- Public transport is cheap here.
Collocations: public transport, in public, public opinion, public service
right /raɪt/
noun — A2
Meaning: a moral or legal entitlement
Examples:
- Everyone has the right to education.
- It’s your right to vote.
Collocations: human rights, right to, have the right
rule /ruːl/
noun, verb — A2
Meaning: (n.) an instruction about what you must or must not do; (v.) to control
Examples:
- You must follow the rules.
- The king ruled for 40 years.
Collocations: break the rules, follow the rules, as a rule
Word Family: rule (n./v.) → ruler (n.)
society /səˈsaɪəti/
noun — A2
Meaning: people living together in organized communities
Examples:
- We live in a multicultural society.
- Society has changed a lot in the last 50 years.
Collocations: modern society, civil society, society as a whole
Word Family: society (n.) → social (adj.) → socially (adv.)
support /səˈpɔːt/
verb, noun — A2
Meaning: to help or encourage; help given
Examples:
- I support your decision.
- We need more financial support.
Collocations: support someone, in support of, emotional support
Word Family: support (v./n.) → supporter (n.) → supportive (adj.)
vote /vəʊt/
verb, noun — A2
Meaning: to choose by marking a paper or raising a hand
Examples:
- Who are you going to vote for?
- She won by 200 votes.
Collocations: vote for, vote against, right to vote, cast a vote
Word Family: vote (v./n.) → voter (n.) → voting (n.)
Quick Review
| Word | Type | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| according | prep. | as stated by |
| amount | n. | quantity |
| campaign | n./v. | organized effort |
| citizen | n. | country member |
| community | n. | local group |
| court | n. | legal place; sports |
| crime | n. | illegal action |
| election | n. | voting process |
| environment | n. | natural world |
| government | n. | ruling group |
| judge | n./v. | court official; assess |
| law | n. | country’s rules |
| leader | n. | guide/chief |
| offer | v./n. | propose |
| opinion | n. | personal view |
| police | n. | law enforcement |
| political | adj. | of government |
| power | n. | control; ability |
| protect | v. | keep safe |
| public | adj./n. | for all; people |
| right | n. | entitlement |
| rule | n./v. | regulation; govern |
| society | n. | community |
| support | v./n. | help |
| vote | v./n. | choose |