International Relations — C1 Essential Words

republic /rɪˈpʌblɪk/ noun C1 Government

Meaning: A country whose head of state is an elected president, not a king or queen; government by elected representatives of the people.

Example: The United States is a republic.

Another example: The republic celebrates its founding day.

Collocations: a republic · the republic of · republic day

Synonyms: democracy (its close partner), commonwealth

Antonyms: monarchy, dictatorship

Word family: republics (n pl) · republican (adj/n)

⚠ Common mistake: A republic describes the STRUCTURE (no monarch); democracy describes the POWER source (the people). The US is both — a democratic republic.

🗣 In spoken American English: The word sits in the full names of half the world's countries.

Register: Formal — civics essential.

parliament /ˈpɑːrləmənt/ noun C1 Government

Meaning: The group of elected people who make and change a country's laws, in many countries outside the US system.

Example: Parliament voted on the new law.

Another example: She was elected to parliament last year.

Collocations: in parliament · parliament votes · member of parliament

Synonyms: legislature, assembly, congress (US equivalent)

Word family: parliaments (n pl) · parliamentary (adj) · MP (member)

⚠ Common mistake: The US equivalent is Congress. Say PAR-luh-ment (the middle A is silent). Its members are MPs.

🗣 In spoken American English: Westminster's benches face each other — debate built into furniture.

Register: Formal — civics essential.

diplomacy /dɪˈpləʊməsi/ noun C1 Government

Meaning: The activity of managing relations between countries through discussion and negotiation; also skill in handling people tactfully.

Example: Diplomacy prevented the war.

Another example: The deal took years of quiet diplomacy.

Collocations: quiet diplomacy · diplomacy between · diplomacy works

Synonyms: negotiation, relations, tact

Antonyms: war, force

Word family: diplomat (n) · diplomatic (adj)

⚠ Common mistake: The person is a DIPLOMAT; the work is diplomacy. In daily life, 'diplomatic' praises careful, tactful speech.

🗣 In spoken American English: Its victories are the wars nobody ever hears about.

Register: Formal — international essential.

treaty /ˈtriːti/ noun C1 Government

Meaning: A formal written agreement between two or more countries, about peace, trade, or cooperation.

Example: The two nations signed a peace treaty.

Another example: The treaty ended the conflict.

Collocations: peace treaty · sign a treaty · treaty between

Synonyms: agreement, accord, pact

Antonyms: declaration of war

Word family: treaties (n pl)

⚠ Common mistake: Treaties bind countries like contracts bind people — signed, ratified, and kept (or the relationship breaks).

🗣 In spoken American English: Versailles is the most famous signature in its family.

Register: Formal — international essential.

summit /ˈsʌmɪt/ noun C1 Government

Meaning: A meeting between the leaders of two or more countries to discuss important matters; also the top of a mountain.

Example: The climate summit brought 100 leaders together.

Another example: They reached the summit at dawn.

Collocations: climate summit · summit meeting · the summit of

Synonyms: conference, peak, top

Antonyms: base, foot (of a mountain)

Word family: summits (n pl)

⚠ Common mistake: One word for the mountain's top and the world's top tables — leaders meet 'at the summit' in both senses.

🗣 In spoken American English: Handshakes there move markets and maps.

Register: Formal — international staple.

ambassador /æmˈbæsədər/ noun C1 Government

Meaning: The most important official representing a country in a foreign country; also a person who represents an idea or organization.

Example: The ambassador met the president today.

Another example: She serves as ambassador to France.

Collocations: ambassador to · the ambassador said · US ambassador

Synonyms: envoy, representative, diplomat

Word family: ambassadors (n pl) · ambassadorial (adj)

⚠ Common mistake: Ambassador TO a country, FROM their own. Brand ambassadors borrowed the title for fame-for-hire.

🗣 In spoken American English: They carry letters, apologies, and warnings between presidents.

Register: Formal — diplomacy essential.

embassy /ˈembəsi/ noun C1 Government

Meaning: The building where an ambassador and their staff work in a foreign country; also the group itself.

Example: Apply for the visa at the embassy.

Another example: The embassy issued a travel warning.

Collocations: at the embassy · embassy staff · the US embassy

Synonyms: consulate (smaller, services), mission

Word family: embassies (n pl)

⚠ Common mistake: Legally, an embassy is treated as the sending country's own ground — asylums and protests in films depend on this rule.

🗣 In spoken American English: Every capital has a street where flags outnumber houses.

Register: Formal — international essential.

alliance /əˈlaɪəns/ noun C1 Government

Meaning: An agreement between countries or groups to work together and support each other, especially in defense or politics.

Example: The two nations formed an alliance.

Another example: NATO is a military alliance.

Collocations: form an alliance · alliance between · military alliance

Synonyms: partnership, union, coalition

Antonyms: rivalry, enmity

Word family: alliances (n pl) · ally (n/v)

⚠ Common mistake: Allies help in war; partners help in business; alliances write that help into promises beforehand.

🗣 In spoken American English: Wedding rings are also called 'alliances' in some languages — the same pledge logic.

Register: Formal — international essential.

sanction /ˈsæŋkʃən/ noun C1 Government

Meaning: An official punishment or restriction placed on a country to force it to obey international law; (also, formal) official permission or approval.

Example: The UN placed sanctions on the regime.

Another example: Trade sanctions hurt the economy.

Collocations: economic sanctions · sanctions on · lift sanctions

Synonyms: penalty, embargo (total ban), restriction

Antonyms: reward, aid

Word family: sanctions (n pl) · sanction (v — both punish and approve!)

⚠ Common mistake: A rare two-faced word: sanctions PUNISH countries, yet 'sanction' alone can mean APPROVE. Context — and the plural — disambiguate.

🗣 In spoken American English: They bite slowly: banks, oil, and flights restricted one by one.

Register: Formal — international essential.

sovereignty /ˈsɒvrənti/ noun C1 Government

Meaning: The power of a country to govern itself independently, without control by another country.

Example: The treaty respects each nation's sovereignty.

Another example: Sovereignty is the first principle of international law.

Collocations: national sovereignty · sovereignty over · respect sovereignty

Synonyms: independence, self-rule, autonomy

Antonyms: occupation, dependence

Word family: sovereign (adj/n) · sovereignty (uncountable)

⚠ Common mistake: Say SOV-rin-tee (the G is silent and the middle shrinks). Every independence speech is built on it.

🗣 In spoken American English: Flags rise the day it is won back.

Register: Formal — international law core.