English Words Starting With Z

• zemindary

  nounLow (C2/Proficiency); primarily encountered in historical, academic, or South Asian contexts.
  /ˈzɛmɪndəri/A landholding system prevalent in colonial India, particularly under British rule, where a zamindar (landlord) was responsible for collecting land revenue from peasants and paying it to the government.
• zemiroth

  plural-nounRare / Specialized
  /zɛˈmɪərɒθ/A category of Jewish hymns, specifically songs sung during or after Sabbath meals.
• zemlinsky

  nounVery Low
  /ˈzɛmlɪnski/A proper noun referring to the Austrian composer and conductor Alexander von Zemlinsky (1871–1942).
• zemstvo

  nounC2
  /ˈzɛmstvəʊ/An elective provincial or district council established in imperial Russia in 1864, dealing with local administration and social services like schools, roads, and public health.
• zemzem

  nounLow
  /ˈzɛmzɛm/The holy water from the Zamzam Well located within the Masjid al-Haram in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, considered sacred by Muslims.
• zen

  adjectivenounC1/C2
  /zen/A Japanese school of Mahayana Buddhism emphasizing the value of meditation and intuition, and the attainment of enlightenment through direct, experiential insight.
• zen buddhism

  nounB2
  /ˌzen ˈbʊd.ɪ.zəm/A major school of Mahayana Buddhism originating in China (as Chan) and developed in Japan (as Zen), emphasizing meditation, direct insight into one's true nature, and the practice of mindfulness in everyday activities.
• zenana

  nounC2 / Very Rare
  /zeɪˈnɑːnə/The part of a house in South Asia reserved for the women of the family.
• zend

  nounC1+ (very rare, technical)
  /zɛnd/A commentary on the Avesta, the sacred texts of Zoroastrianism.
• zend-avesta

  nounVery Low
  /ˌzend əˈvestə/The sacred scriptures of Zoroastrianism, consisting of the Avesta (the liturgical texts) and the Zend (commentaries and translations).
• zendo

  nounLow
  /ˈzɛndəʊ/A hall or room used for seated Zen Buddhist meditation.
• zener diode

  nounLow
  /ˈziːnə ˌdaɪəʊd/A semiconductor diode designed to permit current to flow in the reverse direction when a specific, stable breakdown voltage (the Zener voltage) is reached.
• zenger

  nounExtremely rare / Non-existent in standard English usage
  /ˈzeŋɡə/ (hypothetical pronunciation based on spelling)Not applicable - this word is not a standard English lexical item with established meaning, usage, or dictionary entry.
• zenia

  nounExtremely Rare (Specialized)
  /ˈziːnɪə/The direct effect of pollen (the male plant part) on the characteristics of the seed or fruit of a plant, due to its genetic influence.
• zenist

  nounLow / Rare
  /ˈzɛnɪst/An advocate or follower of Zen Buddhism; one who practices or adheres to the teachings and meditative principles of Zen.
• zenith

  nounC1
  /ˈzen.ɪθ/The highest point reached by a celestial body in the sky, directly above an observer; the time at which this happens.
• zenith distance

  nounTechnical/Specialised
  /ˈzen.ɪθ ˈdɪs.təns/The angular distance of a celestial body from the zenith.
• zenith telescope

  nounC2 (Extremely rare, technical)
  /ˈzɛn.ɪθ ˈtɛl.ɪ.skəʊp/An astronomical telescope designed to measure the precise times when stars cross the local meridian, used for determining latitude and time.
• zenith tube

  nounVery Rare (Technical/Historical)
  /ˈzɛn.ɪθ ˈtjuːb/A proprietary term for a type of cathode-ray tube used in early television sets.
• zenithal equidistant projection

  nounRare
  /ˌzɛn.ɪ.θəl ˌiː.kwɪˈdɪs.tənt prəˈdʒɛk.ʃən/A map projection where all points are plotted at their true azimuth angles and at distances from the centre of the map that are proportional to their true distances from the centre point on the globe.

Showing 161–180 of 568 words.