Browse by letter

English Words Starting With S

15,552 entries — pick a word to see its definition, pronunciation, and usage.

Filter

Parts of speech

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

sextan
adjectivenounExtremely rare / Archaic / Historical
/ˈsɛkstən/A type of fever or ague characterised by paroxysms that occur every sixth day.
sextans
nounVery Low
/ˈsɛkstənz/A small, faint constellation in the southern sky, also an ancient Roman coin valued at one-sixth of an as.
sextant
nounC2
/ˈsɛkstənt/A navigational instrument used to measure the angular distance between two visible objects, traditionally between a celestial body and the horizon, to determine latitude and longitude at sea.
sextern
nounVery rare (obsolete/historical)
/ˈsɛkstən/A gathering or group of six people; specifically, a group of six monks or a section of a manuscript.
sextet
nounC1
/seksˈtet/A group of six people or things, especially six musicians performing together.
sextic
adjectivenounC2 / Extremely Rare
/ˈsɛkstɪk/A mathematical term referring to a polynomial equation of the sixth degree.
sextile
adjectivenounLow
/ˈsɛk.staɪl/An angular distance of 60 degrees between two celestial bodies in astrology or astronomy, considered a favourable aspect.
sextillion
adjectivenounC1-C2
/sɛksˈtɪl.i.ən/A cardinal number represented by 1 followed by 21 zeros (short scale) or 1 followed by 36 zeros (long scale).
sexting
nounB2
/ˈsɛkstɪŋ/The act of sending sexually explicit messages, photos, or videos via digital devices, especially mobile phones.
sexto
nounLow
/ˈsɛkstəʊ/A book or pamphlet printed on sheets folded into six leaves (12 pages).
sextodecimo
adjectivenounVery Rare
/ˌsɛkstəʊˈdɛsɪməʊ/A book size where each printed sheet is folded to make 16 leaves (32 pages).
sexton
nounLow
/ˈsɛkst(ə)n/A person employed by a church to take care of the church building and its contents, and often to ring the bells and dig graves.
sextortion
nounMedium-Low (becoming more frequent in media and law enforcement contexts)
/sɛksˈtɔːʃ(ə)n/A specific form of blackmail where someone is threatened with the public release of sexual images or information unless they comply with demands, often for money or more sexual content.
sextuple
adjectivenounverb-ambitransitiveC2
/ˈsek.stjʊ.pəl/Six times as great or as many; consisting of six parts or things.
sextuplet
nounC2
/ˌseksˈtʌp.lət/A group or set of six; especially, one of six children born from the same pregnancy.
sextuplicate
adjectivenounverb+1Very Low
/seksˈtjuːplɪkət/ (adj., n.); /seksˈtjuːplɪkeɪt/ (v.)To multiply or produce something in six identical copies; the sixth copy in a series.
sexual abuse
nounC1-C2 / High in specific contexts (legal, social work, journalism)
/ˈsekʃuəl əˈbjuːs/Unwanted sexual activity, often involving force or coercion, inflicted on a person who does not or cannot consent.
sexual assault
nounC1
/ˈsekʃuəl əˈsɔːlt/A crime of a physical, sexual nature committed against a person without that person's freely given consent.
sexual dimorphism
nounC2
/ˌsɛkʃuəl daɪˈmɔːfɪz(ə)m/The systematic phenotypic difference between males and females of the same biological species, beyond the differences in their sexual organs.
sexual generation
nounlow
/ˈsɛkʃuəl ˌdʒɛnəˈreɪʃən/The process of reproduction involving the fusion of male and female gametes, resulting in offspring with genetic material from both parents.

Showing 4481–4500 of 15552 words.