Master one word substitutions - replacing phrases or sentences with single words that convey the same meaning. Essential for concise writing and vocabulary enhancement.
✅ Recommended for: Class 8-10 (Foundation) | Class 11-12 (Advanced Usage)
1. What Are One Word Substitutions?
One Word Substitution: Replacing a phrase, clause, or group of words with a single word that conveys the same meaning.
Purpose: Makes language concise, precise, and sophisticated.
Example: "A person who loves mankind" → Philanthropist
| Phrase/Expression | One Word Substitution | Category | Example Sentence |
|---|---|---|---|
| A person who loves mankind | Philanthropist | People/Professions | He was known as a great philanthropist. |
| Government by the people | Democracy | Government/Systems | India is a democracy. |
| A place where birds are kept | Aviary | Places | We visited the aviary at the zoo. |
| Study of the universe | Cosmology | Studies/Sciences | He specialized in cosmology. |
| Fear of heights | Acrophobia | Phobias/Fears | Her acrophobia prevented her from climbing. |
2. Essential One Word Substitutions
| Phrase/Expression | One Word | Category |
|---|---|---|
| A person who loves mankind | Philanthropist | People |
| A person who hates mankind | Misanthropist | People |
| A person who loves himself/herself | Narcissist | People |
| A person who believes in God | Theist | People |
| A person who does not believe in God | Atheist | People |
| A person who doubts the existence of God | Agnostic | People |
| A person who can use both hands equally well | Ambidextrous | People |
| A person who is 70-79 years old | Septuagenarian | People |
| A person who is 80-89 years old | Octogenarian | People |
| A person who is 90-99 years old | Nonagenarian | People |
| A person who is 100 years or older | Centenarian | People |
| A person who pretends to be what he is not | Hypocrite | People |
| A person who walks on foot | Pedestrian | People |
| A person who lives alone and avoids people | Recluse | People |
| A person who is new to a profession | Novice | People |
| A person who is made to suffer for others | Scapegoat | People |
| A person who is indifferent to pleasure or pain | Stoic | People |
| A person who looks at the bright side of things | Optimist | People |
| A person who looks at the dark side of things | Pessimist | People |
| A person who believes in fate | Fatalist | People |
| A person who can speak many languages | Polyglot | People |
| A person who loves books | Bibliophile | People |
| A person who collects stamps | Philatelist | People |
| A person who studies coins | Numismatist | People |
| A person who writes with his left hand | Left-handed | People |
| A person who never takes alcoholic drinks | Teetotaler | People |
| A person who eats too much | Glutton | People |
| A person who loves wine | Oenophile | People |
| A person who talks too much | Loquacious | People |
| A person who talks in sleep | Somniloquist | People |
| A person who walks in sleep | Somnambulist | People |
| A person who is unable to pay his debts | Insolvent | People |
| A person appointed by parties to settle disputes | Arbitrator | People |
| A person who works for free | Volunteer | People |
| A person who is present everywhere | Omnipresent | People |
| A person who knows everything | Omniscient | People |
| A person who is all powerful | Omnipotent | People |
| Government by one person | Autocracy | Government |
| Government by the people | Democracy | Government |
| Government by the rich | Plutocracy | Government |
| Government by the officials | Bureaucracy | Government |
| Government by a king or queen | Monarchy | Government |
| Government by the nobility | Aristocracy | Government |
| Government by the worst citizens | Kakistocracy | Government |
| Government by the priests | Theocracy | Government |
| Government by the few | Oligarchy | Government |
| Rule by a woman | Matriarchy | Government |
| Rule by a man | Patriarchy | Government |
| A state of lawlessness | Anarchy | Government |
| A place where birds are kept | Aviary | Places |
| A place where fish are kept | Aquarium | Places |
| A place where bees are kept | Apiary | Places |
| A place where wild animals are kept | Zoo | Places |
| A place where weapons are kept | Armory | Places |
| A place where books are kept | Library | Places |
| A place where coins are made | Mint | Places |
| A place where wine is made | Brewery | Places |
| A place where dead bodies are kept | Mortuary | Places |
| A place where medicines are prepared | Pharmacy | Places |
| A place where astronomical observations are made | Observatory | Places |
| A place where clothes are kept | Wardrobe | Places |
| A place where cars are kept | Garage | Places |
| A place where grain is stored | Granary | Places |
| A place where soldiers live | Barracks | Places |
| A place where monks live | Monastery | Places |
| A place where nuns live | Convent | Places |
| A place where aircraft are kept | Hangar | Places |
| A place where criminals are kept | Prison | Places |
| A place where patients are treated | Hospital | Places |
| A place where food is served | Cafeteria | Places |
| A place where animals are slaughtered | Slaughterhouse | Places |
| A place where shoes are made/repaired | Cobbler's shop | Places |
| A place where films are made | Studio | Places |
| Study of the universe | Cosmology | Studies |
| Study of the earth | Geology | Studies |
| Study of living organisms | Biology | Studies |
| Study of plants | Botany | Studies |
| Study of animals | Zoology | Studies |
| Study of insects | Entomology | Studies |
| Study of birds | Ornithology | Studies |
| Study of human body | Anatomy | Studies |
| Study of medicine | Pharmacology | Studies |
| Study of languages | Philology | Studies |
| Study of coins | Numismatics | Studies |
| Study of stamps | Philately | Studies |
| Study of rocks | Petrology | Studies |
| Study of earthquakes | Seismology | Studies |
| Study of weather | Meteorology | Studies |
| Study of stars | Astronomy | Studies |
| Study of heredity | Genetics | Studies |
| Study of soil | Pedology | Studies |
| Study of caves | Speleology | Studies |
| Study of cancer | Oncology | Studies |
| Study of skin | Dermatology | Studies |
| Study of heart | Cardiology | Studies |
| Study of mind | Psychology | Studies |
| Fear of heights | Acrophobia | Phobias |
| Fear of water | Hydrophobia | Phobias |
| Fear of fire | Pyrophobia | Phobias |
| Fear of closed spaces | Claustrophobia | Phobias |
| Fear of open spaces | Agoraphobia | Phobias |
| Fear of darkness | Nyctophobia | Phobias |
| Fear of crowds | Ochlophobia | Phobias |
| Fear of spiders | Arachnophobia | Phobias |
| Fear of snakes | Ophidiophobia | Phobias |
| Fear of dogs | Cynophobia | Phobias |
| Fear of cats | Ailurophobia | Phobias |
| Fear of strangers | Xenophobia | Phobias |
| Fear of books | Bibliophobia | Phobias |
| Fear of death | Necrophobia | Phobias |
| Fear of dirt | Mysophobia | Phobias |
| Fear of speed | Tachophobia | Phobias |
| Fear of thunder and lightning | Astraphobia | Phobias |
| Fear of being alone | Autophobia | Phobias |
| Fear of work | Ergophobia | Phobias |
| Fear of new things | Neophobia | Phobias |
| Fear of speaking in public | Glossophobia | Phobias |
3. One Word Substitutions by Category
| Category | Phrase | One Word | Usage |
|---|---|---|---|
| People/Professions | A person who writes dictionaries | Lexicographer | Johnson was a famous lexicographer. |
| Government/Systems | Government by the wealthy | Plutocracy | The country became a plutocracy. |
| Places/Locations | A place where clothes are kept | Wardrobe | She organized her wardrobe. |
| Studies/Sciences | Study of ancient writing | Paleography | He specialized in paleography. |
| Phobias/Fears | Fear of darkness | Nyctophobia | His nyctophobia kept him awake. |
| Medical Terms | One who is unable to sleep | Insomniac | As an insomniac, he read at night. |
| Time/Duration | Happening once in two years | Biennial | The exhibition is biennial. |
| Writing/Terms | A book written by hand | Manuscript | The ancient manuscript was valuable. |
4. Common Prefixes & Their Meanings
| Prefix | Meaning | Examples | One Word Substitutions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Philo- | Love of | Philanthropist, Philatelist, Philosophy | Philanthropist = Loves mankind |
| Miso- | Hatred of | Misogynist, Misanthrope, Misoneism | Misanthrope = Hates mankind |
| -phobia | Fear of | Arachnophobia, Claustrophobia, Acrophobia | Acrophobia = Fear of heights |
| -ology | Study of | Biology, Geology, Psychology | Biology = Study of life |
| -cracy | Government by | Democracy, Autocracy, Bureaucracy | Democracy = Government by people |
| Auto- | Self | Autobiography, Autocracy, Automobile | Autobiography = Self-written life story |
| Bio- | Life | Biology, Biography, Biodegradable | Biography = Life story written by another |
| Geo- | Earth | Geology, Geography, Geometry | Geology = Study of earth |
5. Exam-Focused One Word Substitutions
| Exam Frequency | Phrase | One Word | Likely Exam Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| Very High | A person who loves mankind | Philanthropist | "Find the one word for 'a person who loves mankind'" |
| Very High | Government by the people | Democracy | "Which word means 'government by the people'?" |
| High | Fear of heights | Acrophobia | "What is the term for fear of heights?" |
| High | A place where birds are kept | Aviary | "Choose the one word: a place where birds are kept" |
| Medium | A person who can use both hands equally | Ambidextrous | "What do you call a person who uses both hands well?" |
| Medium | Happening once a year | Annual | "The word for 'happening once a year' is..." |
| Low | A person who eats too much | Glutton | "Identify: A person who eats excessively" |
| Low | A book written by hand | Manuscript | "What is a handwritten book called?" |
🎯 One Word Substitution Challenge
Choose the correct one word substitution for each phrase.
1. A person who loves mankind: (philanthropist/misanthrope/agnostic)
Answer: philanthropist (from Greek: philo = love, anthropos = mankind)
2. A place where birds are kept: (aviary/aquarium/apiary)
Answer: aviary (from Latin: avis = bird)
3. Fear of heights: (acrophobia/claustrophobia/hydrophobia)
Answer: acrophobia (from Greek: akron = height, phobos = fear)
4. A person who can use both hands equally well: (ambidextrous/polyglot/novice)
Answer: ambidextrous (from Latin: ambi = both, dexter = right hand)
5. Government by the wealthy: (plutocracy/democracy/autocracy)
Answer: plutocracy (from Greek: ploutos = wealth, kratos = power)
7. Memory Aids & Tips
Root Words & Prefixes:
• Learn Greek/Latin roots: "philo" = love, "phobia" = fear, "ology" = study
• "Philanthropist" = philo (love) + anthropos (mankind) = loves mankind
• "Democracy" = demos (people) + kratos (power) = power to people
Example: "Aquarium" = aqua (water) + arium (place) = place for water animals.
Categorization Strategy:
• Group by category: People, Places, Studies, Government, Phobias
• Create flashcards with phrase on front, one word on back
• Learn 5-10 new words daily rather than all at once
Example: All "phobias" end with "-phobia" and describe specific fears.
Common Mistakes:
• Confusing similar words: "philanthropist" vs "misanthrope"
• Mixing up places: "aviary" (birds) vs "apiary" (bees) vs "aquarium" (fish)
• Forgetting prefixes: "auto-" (self) vs "bio-" (life)
Always check the root word meaning for accuracy.
📝 Practice One Word Substitutions
Master one word substitutions with our comprehensive worksheet covering all categories and exam-important words!
Go to One Word Substitutions WorksheetIncludes answer key • Category-wise exercises • Root word analysis • Exam pattern questions • Error correction
