Mastery-level C2 business vocabulary covering corporate governance, financial nuance, and negotiation strategy — precise words from financial journalism.
Free Business English vocabulary flashcards at the C2 level — all 35 words with definitions and examples. Study them with spaced repetition and use these words precisely, including nuance most learners miss.
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solvency
the ability of a company to pay all of its debts
receivership
a legal process in which an outside manager takes control of a failing company's assets
arbitrage
the practice of buying and selling the same asset in different markets to profit from a price difference
covenant
a formal promise written into a financial agreement
indemnity
a formal guarantee to cover a loss someone might suffer
remuneration
formal payment given to someone for the work they have done
severance
a payment given to an employee when their job is ended
attrition
the gradual loss of employees who leave a company without being replaced
windfall
a large amount of money someone receives unexpectedly
shortfall
the amount by which something falls below what was expected
conglomerate
a large company made up of several smaller, often unrelated, businesses
oligopoly
a market controlled by a small number of large companies
cartel
a group of companies that secretly agree to fix prices instead of competing
collusion
secret cooperation between companies intended to deceive other people
malfeasance
wrongdoing committed by someone in a position of official trust
nepotism
the unfair practice of giving jobs to relatives instead of qualified strangers
brinkmanship
a strategy of pushing a dangerous situation to the edge of disaster to gain an advantage
machinations
secret and complicated plans made to gain an unfair advantage
divest
to formally sell off part of a business, typically to raise money
underwrite
to formally guarantee to cover the financial risk of a loan
embezzle
to secretly steal money that has been placed in your care at work
relinquish
to formally give up your control over something
rescind
to officially cancel an agreement that had already been made
stipulate
to state clearly that something must happen as part of an agreement
adjudicate
to make an official decision about who is right in a dispute
forfeit
to lose the right to something as a punishment for breaking a rule
encroach
to gradually intrude into an area of business that belongs to someone else
fiduciary
relating to the trust and responsibility involved in managing someone else's money
punitive
intended as a punishment, especially through a financial penalty
protracted
lasting much longer than most people expect
discretionary
decided according to someone's own judgment rather than a fixed rule
exorbitant
much higher than what most people would consider fair
unscrupulous
willing to act dishonestly to gain an advantage
unilateral
done by one side alone, without the agreement of everyone involved
onerous
involving a very heavy and difficult duty