Vocabulary is a noun that refers to the words used in a language.

 

 

The word vocabulary can have at least three different meanings:

 

 

1. Entire of the words in a language

 

• Fresh words are habitually being added to the vocabulary of English.

 

 

2. The words used in a specific context

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• If you are interested in Business English, you need to rectify your business vocabulary.

 

        Example:

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              - Jenny is a doctor so she has a spacious medical vocabulary.

             

              - John has just bought a book on the vocabulary of slang so far for his son.

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3. The words an individual person understands

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Active and passive vocabulary
 

 

In our own persona vocabulary, there is an apportionment between:

 

•  Words that we recognize and use (our active vocabulary)

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•  Words that we recognize but do not or cannot use (our passive vocabulary)

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This is absolute for native speakers as well as for learners. In your own language, there are many words that you use normally when speaking or writing.    These words are part of your zealous vocabulary.    And then there are massive words that you understand when you hear them, for example, on television, but do not use in everyday life speech. These words are part of your passive vocabulary.