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English Words Starting With F

5,868 entries — pick a word to see its definition, pronunciation, and usage.

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Noun Verb Adjective Adverb Plural noun Combining form Verb (transitive)Verb (intransitive)Verb (ambitransitive)

first state
nounLow
/ˌfɜːst ˈsteɪt/A nickname for the U.S. state of Delaware, denoting its status as the first state to ratify the U.S. Constitution in 1787.
first strike
adjectivenounLow to medium (highly context-dependent, frequent in geopolitical/strategy discourse)
/ˌfɜːst ˈstraɪk/A preemptive military attack intended to disable an opponent's ability to retaliate.
first water
nounC1
/ˌfɜːst ˈwɔːtə/The highest quality or finest grade; traditionally used in reference to diamonds and pearls.
first world
nounC1
/ˌfɜːst ˈwɜːld/The countries of the world considered most economically and industrially developed, with high standards of living and democratic political systems, originally aligned with the West during the Cold War.
first world problem
nounMedium
/ˌfɜːst ˈwɜːld ˈprɒbləm/A trivial issue or minor frustration that is experienced in an affluent, developed society, contrasting with serious problems faced in developing countries.
first world war
nounB2
/ˌfɜːst ˌwɜːld ˈwɔː/The major global war that took place primarily in Europe from 1914 to 1918, involving many of the world's great powers.
first-born
adjectivenounC1
/ˈfɜːst bɔːn/The child who is born first to a set of parents; eldest child.
first-cause argument
nounC2
/ˌfɜːst ˈkɔːz ˈɑːɡjʊmənt/A philosophical argument for the existence of God, positing that everything must have a cause, and therefore the universe must have a first, uncaused cause (God).
first-day cover
nounLow (specialist vocabulary)
/ˌfɜːst deɪ ˈkʌvə/An envelope bearing a postage stamp cancelled on the first official day of its issue, often with a special postmark.
first-degree burn
nounB2
/ˌfɜːst dɪˌɡriː ˈbɜːn/The most minor category of burn injury, affecting only the outermost layer of skin (epidermis), characterized by redness, pain, and sometimes mild swelling.
first-dollar coverage
nounMedium (C1-C2)
/ˌfɜːst ˈdɒlə ˈkʌvərɪdʒ/An insurance or benefit policy where coverage begins immediately, without a deductible that must be paid by the policyholder first.
first-foot
nounverbverb-intransitive+1C2
/ˌfɜːst ˈfʊt/A New Year's tradition in Scotland and Northern England, referring to the first person to cross the threshold of a home after midnight on New Year's Day (Hogmanay).
first-in, first-out
nounC2
/ˌfɜːst ɪn ˌfɜːst ˈaʊt/An inventory management and accounting method where assets produced or acquired first are sold, used, or disposed of first.
first-loss policy
nounC2
/fɜːst lɒs ˈpɒləsi/An insurance or reinsurance agreement where the insurer pays for losses only after they exceed a specified deductible amount.
first-nighter
nounLow
/ˌfɜːst ˈnaɪ.tər/A person who attends the opening night of a theatrical production or event.
first-past-the-post
nounC1
/ˌfɜːst ˌpɑːst ðə ˈpəʊst/An electoral system where the candidate who receives the most votes in a constituency wins the seat, regardless of whether they achieve an absolute majority.
first-person shooter
nounC1
/ˌfɜːst pɜːsn ˈʃuːtə/A video game genre where the player experiences the action through the eyes of the character they control, with the primary gameplay involving shooting weapons.
first-sale doctrine
nounC2
/ˌfɜːst ˈseɪl ˌdɒk.trɪn/A legal principle stating that the copyright holder's right to control distribution of a copyrighted work is exhausted after its first authorised sale.
first-string
adjectivenounC1
/ˌfɜːst ˈstrɪŋ/Belonging to the primary or most important group in a team, organization, or system; the initial choice or most valued participants.
first-termer
nounLow
/ˌfɜːst ˈtɜː.mər/A person serving their first term in an elected office or position, typically in a legislative body.

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