Advertising Vocabulary

Term Meaning

ad abbr. advertisement - also advert abbr.

Those ads for hamburgers always make me feel hungry.

advertisement n. item of publicity on TV, radio, the Internet etc. that's meant to persuade people to
do something like buy a product, attend an event, etc.

Are TV channels allowed to run advertisements for gambling websites in your country?

advertising n. company specialising in producing and placing advertisements for clients

agency
Before becoming a film director, Peter worked for an advertising agency.

benefit n. advantage of a product or service, usually derived from its features

A good advertisement makes buyers think about a product's benefits more than the features
that create these benefits.

Billboard US n. a large signboard, usually outdoors, on which a poster-style ad is displayed;

hoarding UK

I wonder what it costs to advertise on one of those billboards you drive past on the way to
the airport.

circulation n. average number of copies of a magazine or newspaper sold in a particular period

Our newspaper's circulation has dropped every year since people began going online for
news.

classified ads n. small advertisements carried by magazines, newspapers, websites etc.

categorised by subject - also classifieds n.

We list our job offers in the classified ads in Craigslist and the local newspaper.

click n. (in advertising) the act of pressing a mouse or touch screen on a display ad to
visit the advertiser's website

Any online ad that gets enough clicks to generate a click-through rate of above 0.4% is
doing great.

commercial n. a paid advertisement on radio or TV

After every song on the radio we get two or three commercials. It's too much advertising for
me.

coupon n. part of a printed advertisement used for ordering goods or getting a discount,
sample etc.
 Term Meaning

Marian saves a lot by cutting out those discount coupons you see in supermarket
catalogues and magazines.

double-page n. advertisement printed across two pages in a magazine or newspaper

spread
Mercedes Benz has commissioned our agency to do a series of double-page spreads for
their latest models.

eye-catcher US n. something that especially attracts one's attention - eye-catching adj.

For an online ad to generate a lot of clicks it has to be an eye-catcher that really grabs
people's attention.

feature n. special characteristic of a product, usually leading to certain benefits

The drink's main feature is its low sugar content, and its benefit is that it makes you look
slimmer and sexier.

poster n. large printed sheet of paper, often illustrated, used to advertise a product, event
etc.

Politicians must spend a fortune on those posters they put up everywhere before an
election.

prime time n. hours on radio and TV with the largest audience, esp. the evening hours

How much is a 30-second radio slot in prime time?

promote v. to (try to) increase sales of a product by publicising and advertising it

Lil Nas was smart enough to promote his music online for free and his song was a hit after
his home-made video went viral.

target n. objective; what one is aiming at - target audience n.

If your target is the teen market, make sure your ad includes language and designs they'll
identify with.

Air Travel Vocabulary

Aisle n. passage between rows of seats [on a plane there are usually one or two]

Would you like a window seat or a seat next to the aisle?

baggage claim n. place from where passengers collect their luggage (suitcases etc.) after arrival

After arriving, go through immigration and then collect your bags from the baggage claim.
board v. to get on an aircraft, ship, train etc. - on board adv.

Passengers seated in rows 30 to 52 may now board flight JQ29 to Bangkok.

boarding pass n. special ticket showing the passenger has checked in and may board the plane

After checking in you'll get a boarding pass. Make sure you don't lose it, OK?

check in v. to register for a flight, incl. checking of booking, passport, luggage etc. - also n.

The first thing you have to do at the airport is check in at one of the check-in counters.

confirmation n. passenger's telephone validation of return reservation; reconfirmation

Do airlines still expect to receive confirmation from their passengers before a flight?

departures n. large display in an airport showing times, destinations etc. of departing flights
board
I just checked the departures board and our flight's boarding now at Gate 9.

domestic adj. national, not international [a domestic flight is entirely within one country]

Tell the taxi driver to go to the domestic terminal, not the international one.

duty-free adj. [of products: cigarettes, perfume etc.] not taxable; exempt from customs taxes or
duty

Whenever I return home from overseas, I bring in a bottle of duty-free perfume.

excess baggage n. luggage that weighs more than the permitted or allowed weight

Airlines charge a lot to take excess baggage, so make sure your bags weigh less than
whatever the limit is.

flight n. an airline journey that's scheduled to go by a certain route at a certain time

What time does your flight arrive?

flight attendant n. a person who serves food and drinks and takes care of passengers on a plane
- also air steward/stewardess, air hostess

If you need something, press this button and a flight attendant will come.

gate n. the point in an airport at which a particular flight arrives and departs

If you forget which gate your flight's departing from, check your boarding pass.

hand luggage n. small bags, briefcases etc. that may be carried on board by passengers - also carry-
on luggage

You can put your hand luggage in any of the overhead lockers near your seat.
 immigration n. government official responsible for checking passengers' passports
officer
Wait until the immigration officer signals you to come, then go to the counter and hand
over your passport.

jet lag n. the feeling of extreme tiredness after a long flight, esp one that crosses two or
more time zones

Whenever I go on a long flight, it takes me one or two days to get over the jet lag.

runway n. the strip on which planes land and take off

As soon as the tyres hit the runway, the pilot hit the brakes and the plane quickly slowed
down.

stopover n. a break for a day or two on an international flight

Is it possible to have a two-day stopover in Bangkok en route to Tokyo?

ticket n. a piece of paper showing you have paid for a journey on a plane, train, bus etc.

Travel agents used to sell printed tickets, but these days we book online and get digital
tickets by email instead.

transit n. a passenger who's stopped at an airport to change flights only and isn't required
passenger to go through immigration

For transit passengers who are changing flights, please follow the signs to the transfer
counter.

Banking Vocabulary

balance n. the difference between credits and debits in an account

If you put money in your bank account, does the balance go up or down?

bank charges n. money paid to a bank for the bank's services etc.

If I withdraw money from an ATM machine, I have to pay $2.50 in bank charges.

branch n. local office or bureau of a bank that customers can visit

Is there a branch of the BNI near here?

Check book US n. book containing detachable checks; chequebook UK

If I had my check book, I'd pay by writing you a check.

Check US n. written order to a bank to pay the stated sum from one's account; cheque UK
 They promised to send me a check, but I didn't get it.

credit n. money in a bank a/c; sum added to a bank a/c; money lent by a bank - also v.

The bank gives her just enough credit to pay her bills.

credit card n. (plastic) card from a bank authorising the purchasing of goods on credit

When Susi realized she'd left her credit card in the ATM machine, she ran back to get it.

current account n. bank a/c from which money may be drawn at any time; checking account US

Current accounts are good for day-to-day purchases, but you don't get much interest.

debit n. a sum deducted from a bank account, as for a cheque - also v.

What was this debit in last month's expense account for?

deposit account n. bank a/c on which interest is paid; savings account US

What interest rate are you getting for your deposit account?

fill in UK v. to add written information to a document to make it complete; to fill out US

Please fill in this application form before seeing the loans officer.

interest n. money paid for the use of money lent - interest rate n.

Why aren't banks paying as much interest as they used to?

loan n. money lent by a bank etc. and that must be repaid with interest - also v.

You'll have to get a housing loan before buying a property.

online banking n. the management of a bank account over the internet - also e-banking

Grandma does her own online banking, from paying bills to checking her balance.

overdraft n. deficit in a bank account caused by withdrawing more money than is paid in

If there isn't enough in my account for a purchase, I get an automatic overdraft.

pay in v. [paid, paid] to deposit or put money in to a bank account

My salary gets paid in every month, and then I withdraw it as needed.

payee n. person to whom money is paid

When writing a check, make sure you spell the name of the payee correctly.

paying-in slip n. small document recording money that you pay in to a bank account
 Do you keep all your paying-in slips?

standing order n. an instruction to a bank to make regular payments

Ask your bank if they'll pay the rent by standing order for you.

statement n. a record of transactions in a bank account

I do all my banking online now, so I don't get statements in the mail.

withdraw v. [-drew, -drawn] to take money out of a bank account - withdrawal n.

Before ATM machines, we took our passbooks to a bank to withdraw money.

Company Vocabulary

accounts n. department responsible for administering a company's financial affairs

department - also accounting department

For all billing enquiries, please contact our accounts department.

board of directors n. group of people chosen to establish policy for and control a company

Do you know anyone on Samsung's board of directors?

Chairman UK n. person who heads a board of directors; head of a company - also chairperson;
chair of the board (COB)

A chairman makes sure the board of directors is running the company properly.

director n. member of a board of directors

How many new directors are being elected at this year's A.G.M.?

executive officer US n. person managing the affairs of a corporation, incl. chief executive officer
(CEO), chief financial officer (CFO), etc.

Sony is replacing several executive officers, including their CEO.

headquarters n. a company's principal or main office or centre of control

Facebook built its new headquarters near San Francisco in California.

manager n. person responsible for day-to-day running of a business or company

department; executive officer US

My sister is now the manager of an online media company.

n. senior director under the chairman responsible for day-to-day management

managing director Being the managing director can be a really stressful job.
UK

marketing n. department that manages branding, promotion, advertising, packaging,

department pricing etc. of products

How many staff are working in our marketing department?

organisation chart n. a table or plan showing a company's structure graphically

Shouldn't the Chairman of the Board be at the top of the organisation chart?

personnel n. department responsible for recruitment and welfare of staff or employees

department
If you have a job interview, go to the personnel department on the third floor.

President US n. the highest executive officer of a company; head of a company

The company's president has the biggest office, of course.

production n. department responsible for the manufacture, creation or crafting of products

department
All our factories are designed and run by the production department.

purchasing n. department responsible for finding and buying everything a company needs
department
The production department asked the purchasing department to buy some new
equipment.

R & D department n. department responsible for inventing new products or improving existing
products

Steve Jobs made sure his R & D department created the most innovative and exciting
new products.

reception n. the place where visitors and clients report on arrival at a company

Who's that guy sitting in reception waiting for?

sales department n. department responsible for finding customers and making sales

Has the sales department's new strategy improved our sales figures yet?

shareholder n. person who owns shares or holds stock in a company or corporation

Did many shareholders come to the A.G.M. this year?

vice president US n. any of several executive officers, each responsible for a separate division
- also VP (abbr)

Our vice president of marketing used to be a Sony Music VP, you know.
Computer Vocabulary

application n. a program designed for a specific task [eg: word processing, graphics etc.]
- also app (abbr.)

Have you downloaded any new smartphone apps lately?

back up phr. verb to send copied data to a secure location in case the original data is lost or
corrupted - also n. backup

Don't forget to back up important files to an external hard drive or the cloud.

bit n. the basic binary unit for storing data in a computer, either 0 or 1 [binary digit]
- see also byte

Data transfer speeds are measured in bits per second, so the higher the number of bits, the
faster your download.

browser n. a program that lets you browse the Internet and access web pages - also web
browser

Which is this year's most popular browser? Is it Firefox, Chrome or Safari?

byte n. 8 bits - kilobyte (approx. 1,000 bytes), megabyte (1 million), gigabyte (1 billion)

One byte can store enough data to generate one letter in a typical European alphabet.

cookie n. a small file installed by a website on a visitor's computer to record the visitor's
activity

Aren't websites supposed to ask for permission before leaving cookies on your computer?

data n. information in digital form that a computer can process, store or use in some
other way

These new laws will allow the government to access any of the personal data on your
computer or smartphone.

file n. a set of related data that's saved with a file name to identify it

Text files don't use much memory, but video and music files can take up lots of memory.

hard disk, hard n. a spinning magnetic disk for storing permanent data, usually fixed inside a
disk drive, HDD computer but sometimes an external device. Not to be confused with the
newer solid state drive (SSD), which does the same job without moving parts.

You can't do anything on a computer if your hard disk isn't working.

hardware n. the physical, tangible parts of computers (such as motherboards, hard drives)
and their peripherals (such as printers, modems) - see also software

Before buying software, make sure it's compatible with your hardware.
input n. data entered into a computer (by keyboard, mouse, touch screen, etc.) - also v.

Even something as simple as pressing send after writing an email is a form of input.

keyboard n. the alphanumeric keys or buttons used to input data [can be a physical device or
a touchscreen image]

I bought a keyboard in Thailand and it's got Thai characters on the keys as well as
English.

memory n. part of a computer for storing data, either temporarily or permanently - see RAM

Can I upgrade the memory to 16 GB?

modem n. device that converts data to a form that allows a computer to connect to the
Internet

The router's for your Wi-Fi network and the modem is for accessing the Internet.

operating system n. software that manages basic functions of computers, smartphones etc., such as
running programs and linking with peripherals–abbr.: OS

Android and iOS are operating systems widely used on phones, and Windows and
macOS are the most popular for computers.

output n. information sent from a computer (to a printer, screen, speakers, etc.) - also v.

Computer-generated audio output goes straight into the mixing desk.

peripheral n. equipment linked to a computer [eg.: printer, scanner, modem, mouse etc.]

Printers and other peripherals are much cheaper now than they used to be.

program n. coded software instructions designed for a specific task [eg: word processing,
graphics etc.]; application - also v.

If you can write programs and create apps, you'll always be able to get a job.

RAM abbr. random access memory [it goes away when you switch off]

The more programs your computer's running at one time, the more RAM it needs.

screen n. the flat surface on which a computer, TV or other device displays text, graphics,
movies, etc.

My kids spend too much time looking at TV screens, computer monitors and those little
screens on their phones.

software n. the programs that allow a computer to operate and perform specific tasks - see
also hardware

Be careful with free software. Some of it secretly collects your personal data, which is then
sold to marketing companies.
 virus n. a program that can infect a computer, replicate itself, and damage or destroy
data

Antivirus software only finds viruses it knows about, so you have to update it to catch any
new ones.

Contract Vocabulary

agreement n. an arrangement made between people, companies, countries etc; contract

All countries, except the USA, have signed a new agreement on climate change.

appendix n. extra material or additional content at the end of a book, contract, report etc.

The tables and graphs in Appendix A are based on the latest data.

arbitration n. settlement of a dispute by a person chosen by both parties - to arbitrate v.

By taking the company to arbitration, the workers got the wages they were owed.

article n. a particular statement or stipulation in a contract etc; clause

For details of payment, see Article 4.

clause n. a particular statement or stipulation in a contract etc; article

Where's the clause on extending the rental agreement?

condition n. anything necessary before the performance of something else

She spoke to reporters on the condition that her name wasn't used.

force majeure n. an unforeseeable event such as a flood, earthquake, war etc used as an excuse for
not fulfilling a contract agreement

Article 7 of the contract covers termination conditions and force majeure provisions.

fulfil v. to satisfy a condition; to complete the required task; to fulfillUS

If one party doesn't fulfil their obligations, the other party can demand arbitration.

herein Adv.: in here; in this (document etc.)

Any other costs not specified herein are the responsibility of the buyer.

hereinafter Adv. : in the following part (of this document etc)

The musician known as Prince is hereinafter referred to as "the artist".

hereto adv: to this (document etc.) [eg.: attached hereto]

 Attached hereto is the full text of the contract.

heretofore adv: up until now; until the present; before this

The artist heretofore known as Prince is now known as Prince Rogers Nelson.

in behalf of in the interests of (person etc.); for (person etc.); on behalf of UK

The money was raised in behalf of refugees from war-torn countries.

null and void invalid; without legal force; not binding

Her last will was declared null and void after being challenged in court.

on the one on one side - on the other hand: on the other side
hand
On the one hand she works quickly, but on the other hand she makes mistakes.

party n. the person or persons forming one side of an agreement

If both parties agree, the contract can be altered.

stipulate v. to specify as an essential condition - stipulation n.

As stipulated in the contract, the apartment cannot be sublet to a third party.

terms n. conditions or stipulations

This is one of the terms you agreed to by signing the contact.

warrant v. to give formal assurance; to guarantee

Our legal firm is warranted as reliable by many former clients.

whereas Conj.: it being the case that; in view of the fact that [in introduction to contracts]

Holidays are covered in Article 5, whereas sick leave is covered in Appendix A.

Correspondence Vocabulary

address n. the place to which a letter is to be sent

We still haven't got your invoice. Are you sure you sent it to the correct address?

Best regards friendly close to a letter - also Kind regards, Best wishes

I use "Best wishes" to close personal correspondence, but for commercial correspondence I
use "Best regards".
Dear first word of most SALUTATIONS, formal or not [eg: Dear Sir, Dear Mr Won, Dear
Jo]

Starting a business letter with "Dear" seems a bit too personal, but everyone still uses it.

Dear Madam formal SALUTATION to an unnamed woman

Can I use "Dear Madam" when writing to a businesswoman who's already given me her
name?

Dear Sir formal SALUTATION to an unnamed man

He'd assumed the CEO was a man and began his letter with "Dear Sir", and then had to
apologize after being told she's a woman.

Dear Sir or formal SALUTATION to an unnamed person of either gender

Madam
It's generally more respectful to avoid "Dear Sir or Madam" and to take the trouble to
find out your correspondent's name or at least gender.

dictate v. to say or read aloud words that someone else will write down, or that dictation
software will transform into text - dictation n.

Which one of those speech-to-text dictation apps do you use for dictating letters?

enc. abbr.1 enclosed [adj. (esp of a document) sent in an envelope along with a
letter]; 2 enclosure [n. a document or object sent in an envelope along with a letter]

If you see "Enc. (2)" written at the bottom of a business letter, it means two additional
items were sent with the letter.

Ladies and SALUTATION when writing to a firm and not to any particular individual in that
Gentlemen US firm

By using the salution "Ladies and Gentlemen" (or "Dear Ladies and Gentlemen") you
are legally addressing the firm or company.

letterhead n. a sheet of letter paper printed with a person or company's name and address

As soon as the business cards, letterhead, stationery and website are ready, we'll launch
the business.

Mr Ms Mrs Miss abbr. of title for man, woman (married or unmarried), married woman, unmarried
woman

Mr and Mrs Singleton would like to invite you to the wedding of their daughter Miss June
Singleton and her loving same-sex partner Ms Olivia MacIntyre-Jones.

p.s. abbr. postscript [used to indicate a note added at the very end of a letter]

If you've written a letter but then think of something else you want to say, write "p.s."
down the bottom and add the extra bit there.
 p.p. abbr. per pro, meaning "on behalf of" or "through the agency of" [eg: A per pro B
(where B has written on behalf of A)]

When Anne writes a letter on behalf of her boss, she puts "p.p. Anne Windsor" after his
name when signing off.

registered mail n. a secure postal service for important or valuable letters or packages

Sending things by registered mail costs a bit more, but at least you can track them online.

salutation n. opening or first line of a letter, usually beginning with 'Dear...'

It's important to use the correct salutation when sending commercial correspondence.

shorthand n. a system of speed writing, esp. when taking dictation

After leaving school, mum went to a commercial college and learned how to type and
take shorthand.

sign v. to write one's name at the end of a document - signature n.

Leave a space at the bottom of the letter for signing your name.

To Whom It May SALUTATION you can use when writing to a company, government department
Concern or other organisation and you don't have a contact name

If a letter begins with "To Whom It May Concern", figure out which department it
should go to and pass it on to them.

Yours faithfully polite close to a letter that does not begin with the recipient's name, as in Dear Sir
UK

Yours sincerely polite close to a letter that begins with the recipient's name, as in Dear Mr Smith
UK

Yours truly US polite close to a letter; Sincerely yours US

Employment Vocabulary

bonus n. additional pay given to an employee as an incentive or reward

My bonus this year was equal to three month's salary.

curriculum vitae n. a short account of one's education, career etc.; CVUK; resumé US; resume US
UK

Should I list every job I've ever had in my curriculum vitae?

dismiss v. to remove or discharge from employment; to sack [colloq.]; to fire US

If you're being unfairly dismissed, ask your union representative to help you.
employer n. person or firm who employs people - employee n. person employed

This factory is the town's biggest employer by far.

Fire US v. [colloq.] to dismiss from a job

Jimmy was fired for getting to work late too many times.

interview n. a formal meeting in which a person applying for a job, a course, a visa etc. is
questioned - also v.

Before going for a job interview, prepare answers to any questions you're expecting.

make redundant v. [made, made] to dismiss because of not being needed – redundancy UK n.
UK

Hundreds of workers were made redundant when the factory closed down.

maternity leave n. period of absence from work (for a woman) when having a baby

How many months of paid maternity leave does your employment contract stipulate?

notice n. advance warning of intention to resign or leave a job - to give or tender one's
notice v.

Maria always says she's quitting her job, but she never gives notice.

perk abbr. perquisite; an extra benefit in addition to a regular salary [e.g.: free medical
care; a car]

It's a boring job, but it has decent perks like a rent-free apartment and medical insurance.

personnel n. the people who work for a firm

Most of the company's personnel work from home.

personnel officer n. manager responsible for recruitment, training and welfare of personnel

If you're being bullied at work, tell the personnel officer.

promotion n. advancement to a higher position or better-paid job - to promote v.

When did you get your last promotion?

prospects n. opportunity for success, chance of promotion etc.

When I applied, I was told the prospects for promotion were excellent.

recruit v. to look for and employ personnel or new staff - recruitment n.

Most companies recruit new staff by advertising their jobs online these days.

resign v. to give up a job - letter of resignation n.

 If you're not happy there, resign and look for a better job.

retire v. to leave employment, esp. because of old age - retirement n.

As soon as she was entitled to the old-age pension, Kelly retired.

salary n. a fixed, regular payment, usually monthly, made by an employer to an employee

When was the last time you raised your housekeeper's salary?

staff n. the people who work for a firm or a particular department; employees

If the staff are happy, a business has a much better chance of succeeding.

take on v. [took, taken] to employ; to hire

I'll let you know the next time we're taking on new staff.

union n. an organization that represents the interests of workers - labor unionUS n., trade
union UK n.

Creating unions gave workers the power to fight for higher wages and better working
conditions.

Import-Export Vocabulary

bill of lading n. list of all goods being sent and shipping instructions; waybill

The list of goods on the bill of lading is correct.

c.&f. abbr. cost & freight: includes shipping to named port but not insurance

Do they want a quote for sending the shipment c.&f. or c.i.f.?

c.i.f. abbr. cost, insurance & freight: includes insurance and shipping to named port

They usually want c.i.f., but check to make sure.

cargo n. goods or products that are being transported or shipped

How's the cargo getting from the port to our warehouse?

certificate of origin n. a document that shows where goods come from

Should I put the city on the certificate of origin, or just the country?

container n. huge box to hold goods for transport - container port n. to containerise v.

Have you ever watched containers being loaded from a dock onto a ship?
customs n. 1 government tax or duty on imported goods 2 officials who collect this tax

Customs won't clear our shipment until we've paid customs duty.

declare v. to make a statement of taxable goods - customs declaration form n.

If customs officials find taxable goods that you haven't declared, you'll have to pay a fine.

f.a.s. abbr. free alongside ship [includes delivery to quayside but not loading]

If the shipment's sent f.a.s., the buyer pays for loading onto the ship.

f.o.b. abbr. free on board: includes loading onto ship

If it's f.o.b., the loading cost is included.

freight n. goods being transported; cargo

Let's pay a freight forwarder to arrange transport and prepare all the documents.

irrevocable adj. that cannot be undone; unalterable - irrevocable letter of credit n.

The granting of citizenship is irrevocable, isn't it?

letter of credit n. a letter from a bank authorising a person to draw money from another bank

Before shipping, we'd require either payment in advance or a letter of credit.

merchandise n. things bought and sold; commodities; wares - also v.

We import a range of merchandise, from clothes to furniture and electrical goods.

packing list n. a document that is sent with goods to show that they have been checked

Make sure the quantity of each item matches the quantity on the packing list.

pro forma invoice n. an invoice or request for payment sent in advance of goods supplied

Could you send us a pro forma invoice, please?

quay n. a solid, artificial landing place for (un)loading ships; wharf - quayside n.

The customs warehouse is in the docklands area near the old quay.

ship v. to send or transport by land, sea or air - also n. shipment n.

The latest models are being shipped from Osaka this week.

shipping agent n. a person acting for or representing a ship or ships at a port

If you use a freight forwarder, you won't have to find a shipping agent yourself.
 waybill n. list of goods and shipping instructions; bill of lading - air waybill n.

If you're sending air freight, use an air waybill instead of a standard bill of lading.

Insurance Vocabulary

actuary n. a person who calculates risks for insurance companies

Maggie loves maths so she's thinking of becoming an actuary.

assessor n. a person who calculates the value of something [e.g.: a building, car etc.]

The assessor said our house is worth over $200,000.

claim n. an application for payment under an insurance policy - to make a claim v.

How long have we got to make a claim if the house burns down?

commission n. money earned each time you sell a product

Every time they sell a policy, insurance brokers get paid a commission.

comprehensive n. [of an insurance policy] all-inclusive; providing more complete protection

Comprehensive car insurance covers damage from things besides accidents, like floods,
fire, vandalism, etc.

consequential n. a loss that happens as a consequence of or as a result of another loss

loss
Are consequential losses like my loss of earnings while I'm in hospital also covered?

Cover UK n. the protection given by an insurance policy [e.g.: public liability cover]

If you're going to the US, you'll need extra cover for hospital bills.

employer's n. liability or responsibility of a firm for damage caused to one of its employees
liability
We've got workers' compensation insurance, so why do we need employer's
liability insurance as well?

goods in transit n. property, merchandise or any goods in the process of being transported

Who usually pays for insuring goods in transit?

insurance broker n. agent who arranges insurance; middleman between insurer and policyholder

Good insurance brokers find the best deals for their clients, and bad ones find the highest
commissions.

liability n. 1: the state of being liable, 2: anything for which a person is liable
 The company did all it could to avoid liability for the damage it caused.

liable adj. legally obliged to pay for damage, injury etc.; responsible - liability n.

Her doctor was held liable for botching the operation, but his insurance covered him.

loss n. death, injury, damage etc. that is the basis for a claim - to lose v.

Does the policy cover loss of property due to floods and other natural disasters?

loss adjuster n. a person who assesses the amount of compensation arising from a claim

I don't trust the insurer's loss adjuster, so I've got my own loss assessor checking
everything.

policy n. a contract of insurance [eg: a product liability policy]

Read everything very carefully before signing any insurance policy.

policyholder n. the person to whom an insurance policy is issued

To maximize their profits, insurers will minimize payments to policyholders.

premium n. a payment, usually monthly, yearly etc, for an insurance policy

I didn't realize they'd increase my insurance premium every year.

product liability n. liability or responsibility of a firm for damage caused by one of its products

Some product liability rules protect gun manufacturers more than consumers or people
hurt by their products.

public liability n. responsibility of a firm for damage caused to a member of the public

If a customer is injured in your shop, public liability insurance will cover you.

reinsurance n. the insuring of risk by one insurance company with another - to reinsure v.

Insurance companies protect themselves by purchasing reinsurance contracts.

risk n. 1 chance or possibility of injury, loss etc 2 person or thing causing risk

If you build a house in a forest, the risk of fire is higher than normal.

Law Vocabulary

attorney n. 1 a person who acts for or represents another in business or legal matters
2US lawyer

An attorney will be appointed to represent you in court.

barristerUK n. a lawyer who pleads before a superior court

In the UK barristers still wear wigs in court, don't they?

brief n. 1UK instructions to a barrister - also v. 2US written statement of facts

My first brief was to defend a young man accused of stealing a bicycle.

case n. statement of the facts in a trial, esp. the argument of one side

The prosecutor built a really strong case and the defendant was found guilty.

contract n. a formal agreement, usually in writing, between two or more parties

Before signing the contract, get a lawyer to check it for you.

court of law n. the place where law cases are heard and decided; court - courtroom n.

There's a special court of law for corruption and bribery cases.

defendant n. person or organization facing a criminal charge or other legal proceeding

- defend v.

After being found not guilty, the defendant hugged his defence lawyer.

evidence n. information presented to a court to prove or support a point in question

Have the police got any forensic evidence like fingerprints, hair or DNA?

guilty adj. responsible for wrong; culpable - guilt n. not guilty adj.

Do you think the jury will find the defendant guilty?

judge n. official with authority to hear and decide cases in a court of law - also v.

Everyone stood when the judge entered the courtroom.

jury n. a group of people chosen to hear the evidence of a case and give a decision

After deliberating for two days, the jury still hadn't reached a verdict.

lawsuit n. a trial at court between two private parties

Many parents brought class-action lawsuits against the company for selling dangerous toys.

lawyer n. a person trained in law and who advises or represents others

After his neighbour refused to keep his dogs quiet, Jim asked a lawyer about taking legal
action.

plead v. 1 to defend a law case 2 to declare oneself to be guilty or not guilty - plea n.
 If you plead not guilty, your case will be heard in court.

prosecutor n. 1 a lawyer, often a public official, who can file charges and try to prove a
defendant's guilt in court - prosecute v.

The prosecutor has charged the former Prime Minister with several corruption-related
offences.

sentence n. 1: decision of a court, esp. as to the punishment, 2: the punishment - also v.

Our nephew is serving a three-year prison sentence for robbery.

solicitor n. 1UK lawyer advising clients and briefing barristers, 2US law officer for a city etc.

Can you recommend a good solicitor for drawing up a will?

sue v. to start legal action against someone in a court of law - lawsuit n.

Tanya's family sued the hospital for negligence after she'd been given the wrong medicine.

sum up v. to summarise and review the evidence of a case - summing up n.

It took the prosecutor quite a while to sum up the case against the defendant.

trial n. a formal examination of a case in a court of law - to try v.

Anyone can sit in the court's public gallery and watch a trial.

verdict n. the formal decision or finding of a judge or jury

After hearing the jury's verdict, the defendant's relatives cried and hugged one another.

without without detriment or damage to a legal right or claim

prejudice
You can plead guilty to one charge without prejudice to any other charges you're facing.

Marketing Vocabulary

brand n. a particular make of product - to brand v. - branded adj.

I've tried lots of other brands of shampoo, but this one's still my favourite.

consumer n. the person who buys and uses a product or service - to consume v.

Most consumers don't care where the products they buy come from.

cost v. to estimate the price of making a product - costing n.

Many inputs like labour and materials must be cost before a product's retail price is set.
develop v. to create a new product or improve an existing one - product development n.

To succeed over the long term, we have to keep developing new and better products.

digital n. marketing through digital devices such as computers and smart phones; includes
marketing TV/radio by some definitions - also e-marketing

We now spend far more on digital marketing than on traditional marketing.

distribution n. the delivering of products to end-users, incl. advertising, storing etc

Has your company ever handled distribution of luxury goods for a top international brand?

end-user n. the person, customer etc. who is the final and actual (or "real") user of a product

If end-users aren't happy with the quality or price, they won't recommend it to their friends.

image n. the concept or perception the general public has of a company or product - public
image n.

It only took one media story about child labour in a factory overseas to destroy the company's
positive image.

label n. small piece of paper, cloth etc. on a product giving information about it

To find out how much sugar a drink contains, check the nutrition information on the label.

launch v. to introduce a new product, with publicity etc. - product launch n.

If Kim launches a new line of clothing, she invites heaps of celebrities to the product launch.

market n. study of consumers' needs & preferences, often for a particular product
research
We only launch new products if our market research shows high consumer demand.

online adj. while connected to the Internet or other computer network - also adv. to
shop online

Our online sales are increasing now that more people are shopping online.

packaging n. the wrapping or container for a product

If a product's packaging is made of plastic, environmentally-aware consumers might not buy

it.

point of sale n. the place where a product is actually sold to the public - point-of-sale adj.

The advertising of cigarettes isn't allowed, even at the point of sale.

product n. something made to be sold; merchandise [includes services] - to produce v.

When creating products for teenagers, use cool designs that fit with today's teen culture.
 public n. creation and maintenance of a good public image - public relations officer n.
relations
When their CEO was caught sending racist e-mails, the company faced a public
relations nightmare.

registered adj. officially recorded or listed (e.g. as in "registered trademark" and its symbol ®)
- to register v.

Our lawyers have advised that we must register all new products for our own protection.

sponsor n. firm supporting an organisation in return for advertising space and brand
recognition - also v.

The sponsor of a Premier League football club has their brand or logo on the team's shirt.

S.W.O.T. abbr. Strength, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats

Anyone who's studied marketing knows what the letters S.W.O.T. stand for.

total product n. in marketing, the whole product, inc. name, packaging, instructions, reliability,
after-sales etc.

This is a total product issue and you should raise it with Marketing, not Advertising.

trademark n. special symbol, design, word etc. used to represent a product, brand or company

Have you registered the trademark yet?

Vocabulary for Meetings

A.G.M. abbr. Annual General Meeting at which directors of a company or association present
their annual report to shareholders or members

How many shareholders attended this year's AGM?

A.O.B. abbr. Any Other Business [usually the last item on a meeting's agenda, for raising
topics not listed elsewhere]

Add a heading for AOB at the end just in case someone wants to raise something else.

absent adj. not here; not present [at a meeting, in a class, at work etc]

If someone doesn't come to the meeting, write "absent" next to their name.

agenda n. a written schedule or list of topics for a meeting

The first item on the agenda is to make a brief statement of welcome.

apologies n. item on an agenda for announcing people who are absent; apologies for absence
 The second item is apologies from board members and office holders unable to attend.

ballot n. a type of vote, usually in writing and usually secret- secret ballot n.

If the workers don't get a pay rise, they'll hold a ballot on whether to strike or not.

casting vote n. a deciding vote (usually held by the meeting's chair) cast only when votes are
otherwise equal

It was a tie, so the chair used her casting vote to decide the matter.

chairman n. the person who leads or presides at a meeting - also chairperson or chair [often
preferred, esp. when referring to a woman]

The chairman ended the meeting by thanking all those who'd attended.

conference n. formal meeting for discussion, esp. a regular one held by an organisation

At this year's conference, leading scientists will discuss the damaging effects of plastic waste.

conference call n. telephone call between three or more people in different locations

We've arranged a conference call for 2 o'clock, so please make sure you're available.

consensus n. general agreement

There's a growing consensus among shareholders that the CEO's ten million-dollar
performance bonus wasn't justified.

decision n. a conclusion or resolution to do something - to decide v.

All decisions made at the meeting must be communicated to our members immediately.

item n. a separate point for discussion [as listed on an agenda]

The next item on the agenda is a proposed wage rise for all full-time employees.

matters arising n. item on an agenda for discussion of what has happened as a result of the last
meeting

The first item is matters arising, beginning with the wage rise proposed at last month's
meeting.

minutes n. a written record of everything said at a meeting

You can read the minutes of last month's meeting if you want to know what everyone said.

proxy vote n. a vote cast by one person for, or in place of, another person who isn't present

How many proxy votes were cast on behalf of absent committee members?

show of hands n. raised hands to express an opinion in a vote

 Voting will be conducted by a simple show of hands.

unanimous adj. in complete agreement; united in opinion

After another year of losses, there was a unanimous vote of no confidence in the CEO.

videoconference n. conference of people in different locations using video links and

videoconferencing software to see and hear one another

Before the videoconference begins, make sure your webcam is turned on and your video link
is up and running.

vote v. to express an opinion in a group by voice, hand, in writing etc - also n. - to cast a
vote v.

Guess how many executives voted in favour of a pay rise for their workers.

Property Vocabulary

apartmentUS n. a room or group of rooms to live in, usually on one floor; flatUK

We're buying a two-bedroom apartment on the tenth floor.

development n. an area of land, often subdivided, with newly-built houses or commercial buildings
for sale or rent - real-estate developer n.

How much do houses in that new residential development cost?

elevatorUS n. a compartment for moving people from floor to floor in a building; liftUK

The elevator was out of order, so we had to walk all the way up to the tenth floor.

en suite adj. forming one unit, esp of a bathroom and bedroom - also n. & adv.

The master bedroom has a luxury en-suite bathroom with shower cabin and whirlpool bath.

estate agentUK n. a person whose business is to help clients buy, sell or rent property; real estate
agentUS

How much commission will our estate agent get for selling the house?

first floorUS n. storey of a building at the same level as the street or ground; ground floorUK

The reception area is on the first floor, right next to the entrance from the street.

flatUK n. a room or group of rooms to live in, usually on one floor; apartmentUS

We've rented the same one-bedroom flat for years, and we love it.

for sale offered for purchase; to be sold; available to be bought

 Are there many houses for sale around here at the moment?

freehold n. the holding of land or property for an unlimited period of time - also adj.

I think freehold means you own all the land and buildings on your property outright.

furnished adj. [of a house, apartment etc] offered for rent with furniture included - to furnish v.

Have you ever seen a furnished apartment that has furniture you actually like?

garden n. an area of land next to a house or other building on which grass and other plants
can be grown; yardUS

It's got a really nice garden with plenty of trees and flower beds.

ground n. storey of a building at the same level as the street or ground; first floorUS
floorUK
The ad says it's a fully-furnished flat on the ground floor with a private garden.

landlord n. a man who owns an apartment, house, office etc and rents it out to tenants
- also n. landlady a woman who does this

Our landlord has given us one more week to pay the rent, but that's all.

leasehold n. the holding of property by lease for a set period of time - also adj.

Before purchasing a leasehold, get a real estate lawyer to check the contract.

letUK v. [let, let] to give someone who pays money ("the rent") the use of your property
(house, apartment, building etc)

If you decide to let your apartment, I'd suggest letting it to someone without kids or pets.

liftUK n. a compartment for moving people from floor to floor in a building; elevatorUS

Just as the doors were closing, I heard someone say, "Hold the lift, please!"

real estateUS n. land and buildings; propertyUK

Any block of land next to the beach is a prime piece of real estate around here.

rent1 n. the amount of money a tenant must pay (monthly, weekly etc) to stay in a house,
apartment etc

My greedy landlord is putting up the rent again!

rent2 v. to pay money regularly (monthly, weekly etc) for the use of a house, apartment,
office etc

Finding an affordable place to rent is getting more and more difficult as prices go up.

storeyUK n. one of the levels of a building; floor; storyUS

 Our new shop's on the ground floor of a sixteen storey office building.

tenant n. a person who rents an apartment, house, office etc from a landlord

They're the tenants from hell! They're noisy and dirty and their dog poops inside so the whole
place stinks.

yardUS n. space or ground surrounding a building; garden

The house has a huge yard for the kids to play in.

Publishing Vocabulary

copyright © n. exclusive legal right of an author to control the publication of his or her work
- also v.

Do writers have to register copyright to prevent unauthorized publication?

author n. the writer of a book, play, essay, article etc

We've invited authors from all over the world to attend this year's book festival.

bind v. [bound, bound] to fix pages of a book together after printing - binding n.

If a book isn't bound properly, the pages might start falling out after a while.

blurb n. short, promotional description of a book usually printed on the cover or dust jacket

The blurb says it's about the murder of a famous Hollywood movie star.

chapter n. one of the main divisions or sections of a book

Just let me finish this chapter, and then I'll be with you.

contents n. a list near the front of a book or magazine showing all the sections or chapters it
contains - also table of contents

There should be a page near the front that lists the book's contents.

desktop n. the use of page layout software to design and produce printed publications and/or
publishing online content - also DTP abbr.

All you need to start a desktop publishing business is a computer and some DTP software.

e-book n. a book published in digital form that can be read on an e-reader or other electronic
device with a suitable display - also electronic book or eBook

It took me a while to get used to reading e-books, but I really love them now.

edit v. to check, modify and generally prepare written material for publication - editor n.
 Even famous writers have to let an editor edit their work before it's published.

e-publishing n. the business of publishing online or in digital formats, incl. online newspapers &
magazines, e-books & e-journals etc - also electronic publishing or digital publishing

New profit sources in e-publishing include political e-mail and social media campaigns, data
harvesting and selling, and so on.

e-reader n. a mobile device for reading any of the e-books and other digital publications stored
in it - also e-book reader or e-book device

My first e-reader had a built-in dictionary for checking new words while reading.

fiction n. stories about imaginary events and people - fictional adj. - see non-fiction

After retiring from the police force, Walter became a successful writer of detective fiction.

font n. a set of letters and numbers in a particular style used for printing text or displaying
it on a screen - also typeface n.

Which font will you use? Times New Roman or another one?

front cover n. the front of a book or magazine on which the title is usually printed

Romance novels with a beautiful young couple on the front cover always sell better.

hardback n. a book with hard, stiff covers made of board - also adj.

Compared to paperback and digital editions, hardbacks are really expensive.

index n. an alphabetical list at the back of a book showing names, places, topics etc and the
pages on which they're mentioned - also v.

Non-fiction books usually have an index, but novels and other works of fiction don't.

inside front n. front flap of the book's jacket, sometimes carrying the blurb - IFC abbr.
cover
Is there anything on the inside front cover?

jacket n. the protective paper cover supplied with most hardbacks - also dust jacket n.

The book's colourful jacket made it stand out in stores.

non-fiction n. informative writing about the real world, real events or real people [eg: science,
history, biography etc] - also adj. - see fiction

If a book's about the science of climate change it's non-fiction, but if it's a novel about climate
change it's fiction.

paperback n. a book with soft, flexible covers made of paper or card - also adj.

Paperbacks are lighter than hardbacks and easier to carry when you're travelling.
spine n. the long, narrow part of a book's cover that pages are fixed to and that faces
outward from a shelf

The spine's got the title and the author's name on it, but shouldn't it also have the publisher's
logo?

title n. the name of a book, chapter, poem, song, film etc

A book sells more copies if its title is catchy and easy to remember.

title page n. the page of a book (often the third) that carries the title in large type

Does a title page have anything on it besides the book's title?

typeset v. [-set, -set] to put type [i.e. letters, numbers, symbols etc] in the right order before
printing a text - also adj.

Printed text used to be typeset by hand, but these days most publishers and printing companies
use typesetting software instead.