If you are preparing for competitive exams in India like SSC, IBPS, Railways, or others, you already know that English plays a major role in every exam. You might have seen questions on error detection, fill in the blanks, sentence formation, and also one word substitution in the English paper.
What is One Word Substitution?
In competitive exams, One Word Substitution is a very important part of the English section. It means replacing a long phrase or sentence with just a single word, without changing the meaning. This makes the language short, clear, and easy to understand. One Word Substitution is a part of vocabulary and is sometimes also called Verbatim. In exams like SSC, Banking, UPSC, NDA, MBA, and many other government tests, usually 2–3 questions are asked from this topic. These questions are useful because they save time during the exam, improve your communication skills, and also help you write better essays and reports.
Examples of One Word Substitution:
- The government run by a single ruler with absolute power – Dictatorship
- A person who speaks many languages – Polyglot
Importance of One Word Substitution in Exams?
- Saves time and space in communication
- Helps in writing essays and reports
- Improves vocabulary and comprehension
- Frequently asked in SSC, Banking, UPSC, NDA, MBA, and insurance exams
On average, 2–3 questions may appear in most competitive exams, sometimes more depending on the pattern.
60+ categories of One Word Substitution
Now that you know what One Word Substitution is and why it is important, let us move on to the complete category list. Questions may be asked in from any categories. All possible categories are listed below. This way, you can focus on one topic at a time instead of getting confused with random words.
Below you will find 60+ categories of One Word Substitution, each with examples. In next posts, we will write in detail all the possible Verbatims in each category in separate posts.
In similar way, preparing on Idioms is also crucial for SSC CGL paper. Practice Idioms and Phrases questions for SSC papers here.
1. One Word Substitution for Study/Profession/Research
Study of plants → Botany
Study of animals → Zoology
Study of human mind → Psychology
Study of Earth → Geology
Check out full 40+ one-word substitutions examples list for study/professions/research.
2. One Word Substitution for Types of Fear (Phobias)
Fear of water → Hydrophobia
Fear of heights → Acrophobia
Fear of confined spaces → Claustrophobia
Fear of darkness → Nyctophobia
Check out full list of 100+ Phobias – One-word Substitutions for Fears
3. One Word Substitution on General Terms & Definitions
A person who talks too much → Loquacious
A short stay at a place → Sojourn
A speech given on a special occasion → Oration
One who cannot be defeated → Invincible
4. One Word Substitution for Group or Collection Names
A collection of poems → Anthology
A group of ships → Fleet
A group of wolves → Pack
A group of lions → Pride
5. One Word Substitution for Likes and Dislikes
One who loves books → Bibliophile
One who loves mankind → Philanthropist
One who hates mankind → Misanthrope
One who hates women → Misogynist
6. One Word Substitution for Government and Political Systems
Rule by the people → Democracy
Rule by a king → Monarchy
Rule by the wealthy → Plutocracy
Rule by a small group → Oligarchy
7. One Word Substitution for People or Person-based Words
A person who lives alone → Recluse
A person who is 80–89 years old → Octogenarian
A person who walks in sleep → Somnambulist
A person who cannot read or write → Illiterate
8. One Word Substitution for Professions and Occupations
A person who repairs pipes → Plumber
A person who cuts hair → Barber
A person who sells medicines → Pharmacist
A person who writes books → Author
9. One Word Substitution for Scientific and Research Terms
Study of stars and planets → Astronomy
Study of fossils → Paleontology
Study of society → Sociology
Study of weather → Meteorology
10. One Word Substitution for Words Related to Killing or Death
Killing of a king → Regicide
Killing of self → Suicide
Killing of brother → Fratricide
Killing of father → Patricide
11. One Word Substitution for Sounds, Events, and Spot Names
Sound of rain → Patter
Place where dead bodies are kept → Morgue
Place where birds are kept → Aviary
Place where weapons are stored → Arsenal
12. One Word Substitution for Time-related Terms
Happening every year → Annual
Happening every two years → Biennial
Lasting for a very short time → Temporary
Once in a hundred years → Centenary
13. One Word Substitution for Place-related Terms
A place where animals are kept → Zoo
A place where books are kept → Library
A place where weapons are stored → Arsenal
A place where sick people are treated → Hospital
14. One Word Substitution for Legal and Crime Terms
A person who steals → Thief
A person who sets fire intentionally → Arsonist
False written statement → Libel
Fake signature → Forgery
15. One Word Substitution for Emotions and Personality Types
One who sees the positive side → Optimist
One who sees the negative side → Pessimist
One who is overly self-centered → Egotist
One who loves others → Altruist
16. One Word Substitution for Language and Communication
Language no longer in use → Dead language
Speech without preparation → Extempore
A book written by hand → Manuscript
A short amusing story → Anecdote
17. One Word Substitution for Habit and Behavior
One who walks in sleep → Somnambulist
One who speaks many languages → Polyglot
One who eats too much → Glutton
One who does not drink alcohol → Teetotaler
18. One Word Substitution for Medical and Health-related Terms
One who treats teeth → Dentist
One who treats animals → Veterinarian
One who studies diseases → Pathologist
Cure for all diseases → Panacea
19. One Word Substitution for Geographical and Physical Features
Land surrounded by water on three sides → Peninsula
A narrow strip of land connecting two larger areas → Isthmus
Land completely surrounded by water → Island
Large body of ice → Glacier
20. One Word Substitution for Military and War Terms
A person who fights for money → Mercenary
A sudden attack → Ambush
Temporary stop in fighting → Ceasefire
A soldier on foot → Infantryman
21. One Word Substitution for Religious and Spiritual Terms
Belief in many gods → Polytheism
One who does not believe in God → Atheist
Belief in one God → Monotheism
One who believes God is in everything → Pantheist
22. One Word Substitution for Food and Eating Habits
One who eats too much → Glutton
One who eats only plants → Vegetarian
One who eats everything → Omnivore
One who eats meat → Carnivore
23. One Word Substitution for Financial and Economic Terms
A person who lends money at high interest → Usurer
Total income and expenditure of a state → Budget
Government income from taxes → Revenue
Study of money and economy → Economics
24. One Word Substitution for Movement and Travel
A journey to a sacred place → Pilgrimage
A journey around the world → Circumnavigation
One who travels on foot → Pedestrian
A person who travels for pleasure → Tourist
25. One Word Substitution for Clothing and Dress-related
A person who makes clothes → Tailor
Formal clothes worn by members of the same group → Uniform
Clothes worn by actors on stage → Costume
Loose garment worn by women → Gown
26. One Word Substitution for Nature and Environment
Cutting down of trees → Deforestation
Protection of nature → Conservation
Study of environment → Ecology
Unnatural rise in Earth’s temperature → Global warming
27. One Word Substitution for Art, Music, and Literature
One who paints → Painter
One who plays music → Musician
A person who writes poems → Poet
Study of beautiful handwriting → Calligraphy
28. One Word Substitution for Relationship and Family Terms
A child without parents → Orphan
A woman whose husband has died → Widow
A man whose wife has died → Widower
Marriage within the same caste or group → Endogamy
29. One Word Substitution for Ethics and Moral Conduct
One who is morally upright → Virtuous
One who pretends to be morally good → Hypocrite
One who is indifferent to pleasure or pain → Stoic
A person who lives a simple, self-disciplined life → Ascetic
30. One Word Substitution for Nationality and Citizenship Terms
One who is not a citizen → Alien
One who loves their country → Patriot
One who betrays their country → Traitor
A person without a country → Stateless
31. One Word Substitution for Law and Justice System
A person appointed to settle disputes → Arbitrator
A person who files a lawsuit → Plaintiff
A person against whom a lawsuit is filed → Defendant
Punishment without trial → Lynching
32. One Word Substitution for Quantity and Numbers
A word or phrase with two meanings → Ambiguous
A thing that cannot be counted → Uncountable
A speech too long and boring → Harangue
One who is present everywhere → Omnipresent
33. One Word Substitution for Language Origin and Word Formation
A new word or expression → Neologism
A word with the same meaning as another → Synonym
A word with opposite meaning → Antonym
A name derived from a person → Eponym
34. One Word Substitution for Artificial and Man-made Concepts
Not natural; man-made → Artificial
Something not genuine → Counterfeit
A copy of a document → Duplicate
Made or done without planning → Spontaneous
35. One Word Substitution for Symbolism and Metaphorical Terms
Something that stands for something else → Symbol
A statement that seems contradictory but may be true → Paradox
An indirect or implied comparison → Metaphor
A mild expression used in place of a harsh one → Euphemism
36. One Word Substitution for Social Behavior and Public Life
One who loves to be with people → Extrovert
One who avoids company of others → Introvert
One who loves to be in the spotlight → Exhibitionist
A person who lives according to societal norms → Conformist
37. One Word Substitution for Rare and Abstract Concepts
Something that cannot be described in words → Ineffable
Something that cannot be changed → Immutable
Something that lasts for a short time → Ephemeral
A thing that is perfect in every way → Quintessence
38. One Word Substitution for Artificial Intelligence and Technology (Modern Use)
A machine that mimics human intelligence → Robot
A copy of a digital file stored separately → Backup
A malicious software program → Malware
The science of computers and tech → Informatics
39. One Word Substitution for Psychology and Mental States
Split or dual personality disorder → Schizophrenia
A condition of forgetting → Amnesia
A person with abnormal fear of being touched → Haphephobia
Mental calmness in difficult situations → Equanimity
40. One Word Substitution for Mythological and Fantasy-related
A creature with both lion and eagle features → Griffin
A fictional ideal place → Utopia
A land of myth or legend → Atlantis
A person who turns everything into gold → Midas
41. One Word Substitution for Architecture and Monument Types
A tomb built for the dead → Mausoleum
A building where historical items are kept → Museum
A large stadium without a roof → Amphitheater
A tower with a light to guide ships → Lighthouse
42. One Word Substitution for Latin and Legal Phrases
In good faith → Bona fide
At first glance → Prima facie
Let the buyer beware → Caveat emptor
A writ requiring a person to be brought before a judge → Habeas corpus
43. One Word Substitution for Business and Corporate Terms
A person who starts a business → Entrepreneur
A market dominated by one seller → Monopoly
A market dominated by a few sellers → Oligopoly
Company legally treated as a person → Corporation
44. One Word Substitution for Literary and Rhetorical Devices
Exaggeration for effect → Hyperbole
An expression that imitates a sound → Onomatopoeia
A statement that contradicts itself → Oxymoron
A word or phrase used in place of a harsher one → Euphemism
45. One Word Substitution for Logical and Philosophical Concepts
A person who doubts everything → Skeptic
A conclusion based on reasoning → Inference
A person who believes pleasure is the highest good → Hedonist
Belief that all events are predetermined → Fatalism
46. One Word Substitution for Diplomatic and International Relations
Official ban on trade → Embargo
An agreement between two countries → Treaty
A representative of a country abroad → Ambassador
Temporary suspension of hostilities → Truce
47. One Word Substitution for Journalism and Media
An article written by a reader → Letter to the Editor
An unsigned editorial expressing opinion → Op-ed
A person who gathers and reports news → Correspondent
News published at regular intervals → Periodical
48. One Word Substitution for Historical and Archaeological
Study of ancient things → Archaeology
Objects from ancient times → Artifacts
Old documents or manuscripts → Archives
The study of coins → Numismatics
49. One Word Substitution for Commerce and Trade
Goods sent out of the country → Exports
Goods brought into the country → Imports
A tax on imported goods → Tariff
Person who buys and sells goods → Trader'[]
50. One Word Substitution for Technology and Digital Culture
A person addicted to the internet → Netizen
A program that replicates itself → Virus
Unsolicited email → Spam
A person who gains unauthorized access to computers → Hacker
51. One Word Substitution for Environment and Sustainability
A person concerned about the environment → Environmentalist
Preservation of natural resources → Conservation
Gas causing global warming → Greenhouse gas
Gradual increase in Earth’s temperature → Global warming
52. One Word Substitution for Military Strategy and Intelligence
A planned movement of troops → Maneuver
Secret military information → Intelligence
One who collects information secretly → Spy
War-like; inclined to fight → Belligerent
53. One Word Substitution for Education and Academic Roles
One who teaches in college → Professor
A student who tops in academics → Valedictorian
A person receiving training → Apprentice
A speech at graduation → Commencement speech
54. One Word Substitution for Psychological Disorders and Conditions
Irrational fear of spiders → Arachnophobia
A split personality disorder → Schizophrenia
Extreme mood swings → Bipolar Disorder
Fear of being in public places → Agoraphobia
55. One Word Substitution for Space and Astronomy
A body that orbits a planet → Satellite
A star that suddenly increases in brightness → Nova
A system of millions of stars → Galaxy
The study of celestial bodies → Astronomy
56. One Word Substitution for Transportation and Navigation
A vehicle that runs on rails → Train
A person who directs a ship → Captain
A place where aircraft land and take off → Airport
Instruments used for sea navigation → Nautical instruments
57. One Word Substitution for Myth-busting, Beliefs, and Folklore
An old belief without scientific basis → Superstition
A story passed down orally → Folklore
A widely believed false idea → Myth
A traditional story with gods/heroes → Legend
58. One Word Substitution for Management and Organizational Behavior
Delegation of authority → Empowerment
A diagram showing hierarchy → Organizational chart
A person who coordinates tasks → Manager
Practice of working together harmoniously → Teamwork
59. One Word Substitution for Aviation and Aeronautics
Person who flies aircraft → Pilot
The science of flight → Aeronautics
A vehicle that flies in space → Spacecraft
A place where aircraft are stored → Hangar
60. One Word Substitution for Maritime and Naval Terms
Study of ships and navigation → Nautical Science
Back part of a ship → Stern
Front of a ship → Bow
A person working on a ship → Sailor
Try to learn 5–10 words daily from one category and revise weekly. Focus on usage in sentences.