People in Society — B2 Essential Words

resident /ˈrezɪdənt/ noun B2 Society

Meaning: A person who lives in a particular place (a town, a building, a country) as their home; also a doctor training in a hospital (US).

Example: Residents opposed the new road.

Another example: She's a resident of Chicago.

Collocations: residents of · a resident · local residents

Synonyms: inhabitant, citizen (country sense), local

Antonyms: visitor, tourist

Word family: residents (n pl) · residence (n) · residential (adj)

⚠ Common mistake: Parking permits and votes guard its privileges. Its medical twin (resident doctors) works the long hospital shifts of TV dramas.

🗣 In spoken American English: 'Resident expert' is its borrowed compliment form.

Register: Formal — society essential.

senior /ˈsiːniər/ adjective / noun B2 Society

Meaning: Older or higher in rank; also an older person (a senior citizen), and the final-year student in a US high school or university.

Example: Senior citizens ride free.

Another example: She's a senior in high school.

Collocations: senior citizen · a senior · senior manager

Synonyms: elder, older, higher-ranking

Antonyms: junior

Word family: seniors (n pl) · seniority (n)

⚠ Common mistake: One word covers grandparents, final-year students, and bosses. Its discounts start at different ages in every shop — 55, 60, 62, 65 argue politely.

🗣 In spoken American English: Prom and retirement both call it a title year.

Register: Neutral — society essential.

volunteer /ˌvɒlənˈtɪər/ noun / verb B2 Society

Meaning: A person who offers to do work or help without being paid; to offer to do something freely, or to give information without being asked.

Example: Volunteers serve food at the shelter.

Another example: He volunteered to drive.

Collocations: volunteers at · volunteer to · a volunteer

Synonyms: helper, unpaid worker, contributor

Word family: volunteers (n pl) · voluntary (adj) · volunteering (n)

⚠ Common mistake: Classrooms fear its second sense ('volunteer an answer') less than its first invites heroes. Disasters summon its best instinct nationwide.

🗣 In spoken American English: Its fire departments protect most small American towns.

Register: Formal — society essential.

household /ˈhaʊshəʊld/ noun B2 Society

Meaning: All the people living together in one house or apartment, counted as one unit in statistics and services; the home and its affairs.

Example: The average household has 2.5 people.

Another example: Household bills rose this year.

Collocations: a household · household bills · household name (famous)

Synonyms: home unit, family unit, residence

Word family: households (n pl) · household (adj)

⚠ Common mistake: 'A household name' is fame's measurement (known in every home). Census forms count it, not feelings — roommates qualify as one.

🗣 In spoken American English: Its income statistics steer whole election debates.

Register: Formal — society essential.

public /ˈpʌblɪk/ noun / adjective B2 Society

Meaning: People in general, as a whole (the public); or open to everyone and provided by the community or government (public transport, a public library).

Example: The park is open to the public.

Another example: Public opinion shifted.

Collocations: the public · public transport · in public

Synonyms: people, community, society

Antonyms: private

Word family: publicly (adv) · publicize (v) · publication (n)

⚠ Common mistake: Its opposite PRIVATE splits the map of life: schools, baths, transport, and opinions all come in both. 'In public' polices behavior everywhere.

🗣 In spoken American English: 'Go public' in business means sell shares to everyone — its stock-market debut.

Register: Formal — society essential.

society /səˈsaɪəti/ noun B2 Society

Meaning: People living together in a country or community with shared laws, customs, and organizations; also an organized group with a special purpose (a music society).

Example: Modern society depends on trust.

Another example: She joined the history society.

Collocations: society in · modern society · a society for

Synonyms: community, civilization, association

Word family: societies (n pl) · social (adj) · societal (adj)

⚠ Common mistake: This whole section's root word. 'High society' is its party floor; the 'humane society' protects its animals.

🗣 In spoken American English: Its health is measured in trust more than wealth, sociologists argue.

Register: Formal — society essential.

elderly /ˈeldərli/ adjective B2 Society

Meaning: Old in age; used politely for older people (the elderly = old people as a group).

Example: Elderly people often need warmer rooms.

Another example: The elderly receive winter help.

Collocations: elderly people · the elderly · an elderly man

Synonyms: old (plain), senior, aged

Antonyms: young

Word family: elder (n/adj) · elders (n pl)

⚠ Common mistake: The politeness ladder runs old → elderly → senior — style guides argue the rungs yearly. 'Elder' (the noun) carries respect in many cultures and churches.

🗣 In spoken American English: Its care is every family's long chapter.

Register: Formal — society staple.

youth /juːθ/ noun B2 Society

Meaning: The time of life when a person is young; young people as a group; also a young man in some usages.

Example: In her youth, she swam daily.

Another example: The youth of the town need a sports center.

Collocations: in her youth · the youth of · youth center

Synonyms: young people, youthfulness, teenagers

Antonyms: old age

Word family: youths (n pl) · youthful (adj)

⚠ Common mistake: Its hostels and orchestras name institutions after it. 'Youth is wasted on the young' is the proverb elders quote with a smile.

🗣 In spoken American English: Fountains of it sell in every mythology.

Register: Formal — society essential.

toddler /ˈtɒdlər/ noun B2 Society

Meaning: A young child who has just learned to walk, roughly between one and three years old.

Example: The toddler took three steps and sat down.

Another example: Toddlers need naps and snacks.

Collocations: a toddler · toddler age · toddlers and babies

Synonyms: little child, infant (younger), preschooler (older)

Word family: toddlers (n pl) · toddle (v)

⚠ Common mistake: The verb paints the picture: to toddle is to walk unsteadily — the age named by its gait. Its tantrums at age two are so famous they have a brand ('the terrible twos').

🗣 In spoken American English: Baby-proofing exists because of its curiosity radius.

Register: Neutral — family essential.

spouse /spaʊs/ noun B2 Society

Meaning: A person's husband or wife — the formal word used on documents and in official contexts.

Example: Employees may bring their spouses.

Another example: Her spouse works in banking.

Collocations: a spouse · spouses · your spouse

Synonyms: husband or wife, partner (wider), mate

Word family: spouses (n pl) · spousal (adj)

⚠ Common mistake: Forms ask for it where conversations say husband/wife — one neutral word covering both. Visas and insurance run on its checkboxes.

🗣 In spoken American English: Say SPOWSS (rhymes with house).

Register: Formal — documents and society.