10 Unusual Words That Will Add Colour to Your Language | ILC

English is full of surprising words. Here are ten unusual ones, with meanings and example sentences, to add a little colour to your vocabulary. From the confusing bumfuzzle to the rain-proof bumbershoot, these words show how playful English can be.

Bumfuzzle

To confuse or bewilder someone.

Example: The complicated instructions bumfuzzled me, and I had to ask a friend to help me build the furniture.

Nudiustertian

Relating to the day before yesterday. It's very rare, but a fun word to know.

Example: She suddenly remembered her nudiustertian meeting, but by then it was far too late.

Lollygag

To waste time doing nothing useful.

Example: Instead of finishing his work, he lollygagged around the office chatting to colleagues.

Widdershins

In an anticlockwise direction, against the direction of the sun.

Example: The magician told the audience to walk widdershins around the table three times to break the spell.

Snollygoster

A clever but dishonest person, especially a politician who only cares about themselves.

Example: People were tired of the snollygosters in power who cared more about themselves than the public.

Collywobbles

A nervous feeling in your stomach; butterflies.

Example: She always got the collywobbles before going on stage, but they disappeared as soon as she started performing.

Gobbledygook

Language that is full of jargon and very hard to understand.

Example: The official letter was pure gobbledygook, and nobody understood what it meant.

Defenestrate

To throw someone or something out of a window. It is often used humorously.

Example: He was so frustrated with his slow computer that he joked about defenestrating it.

Bumbershoot

An old-fashioned, playful word for an umbrella.

Example: She always carries a bumbershoot in her bag, just in case of rain.

Doozy

Something extraordinary or remarkable, either very good or very bad.

Example: The film's final plot twist was a real doozy.

Build your English vocabulary with ILC

Unusual words are fun, but everyday vocabulary is what helps you communicate. At our English schools in Birmingham, Bristol, Cambridge, Colchester and Portsmouth, we offer group, one-to-one, online and exam preparation courses for adults, plus summer schools for young learners.