Preference, Obligation, and Permission: English Vocabulary List

to favor something, especially an opinion

"I lean towards the second option."

"After hearing all the arguments the judge seemed to lean towards the plaintiff's side because the evidence presented by the defense was weak."

to specify that something needs to be done or how it should be done, especially as part of an agreement

"The contract stipulates a delivery date."

"The contract clearly stipulates that both parties must give at least thirty days written notice before terminating the agreement for any reason."

an official approval or consent for an action to be carried out

"Official authorization needed."

"Official authorization is needed before starting any construction work in the protected area."

the validity or acceptability of something, especially as legal evidence

"Admissibility of evidence."

"The judge decided on the admissibility of evidence during the court hearing last week."

the power or freedom of making decisions in a particular situation

"You can rely on his discretion."

"Please use discretion when sharing confidential information with others."

the privilege of being officially released from an obligation, law, or something that is usually prohibited

"Special dispensation granted."

"The special dispensation was granted to allow the student to take the exam later."

an official order according to which any commercial activity with a particular country is banned

"The UN imposed a trade embargo on that country for breaking rules."

"The government lifted the embargo after the country agreed to follow international trade regulations."

one's natural desire and feeling to take a specific action or act in a particular manner

"She has an inclination to arrive late."

"She has a natural inclination toward music and started playing piano at a very young age."

a tendency to believe in or favor something

"His political leanings are liberal."

"His political leaning is clearly to the left according to his statements."

a strong liking for something

"She has a predilection for spicy food."

"She has a strong predilection for classical music and listens to it every day."

a natural inclination to behave in a certain way or exhibit particular characteristics

"Propensity to worry."

"He has a strong propensity to worry about small problems unnecessarily."

the quality of being careful and avoiding risks

"Prudence suggests you save money for emergencies."

"Prudence suggests you save money for emergencies instead of spending your entire paycheck as soon as you receive it."

a topic, term, or action that is forbidden or avoided for religious or cultural reasons

"That topic is taboo here."

"Discussing personal finances openly is considered a taboo in many social circles."

using force or threat to persuade people to do something that they are reluctant to do

"The methods are coercive."

"The methods are coercive and use threats and intimidation to force people to comply against their will."

persuasive in a way that captures attention or convinces effectively

"His story is compelling."

"The compelling argument made by the defense attorney convinced the jury that the defendant was innocent and they returned a verdict of not guilty."

extremely good or satisfactory

"Everything is copacetic."

"Everything is copacetic between us now because we apologized and made up after the argument."

(of a person) not subject to an obligation, duty, or liability that applies to others

"He is exempt from the test."

"He is exempt from the final exam because his grades are already high enough to pass the class."

not allowed by the law

"The claim is illegitimate."

"The claim is illegitimate because there is no evidence to support what he is saying."

in a manner that is acceptable by the law

"The goods were sold licitly."

"The goods were sold licitly and all of the proper taxes and customs duties were paid on them."

according to or allowed by law

"This is a statutory right."

"The statutory requirement says that all drivers must carry insurance and those who do not can be fined or lose their licenses."

(of a law, regulation, rule, etc.) extremely limiting and strict

"The rules are stringent."

"The stringent safety rules must be followed by everyone who works in the laboratory."

not permitted by or conforming to the law or regulations

"The action is unlawful."

"The action is unlawful and the police arrested the man for breaking the law."

to make something obligatory

"The law mandates seatbelt usage."

"The new law mandates that all children under the age of eight must sit in a proper car safety seat while traveling in a vehicle."

an official exemption that is granted to someone, especially from legal proceedings

"The diplomat was granted diplomatic immunity."

"Diplomatic immunity protects ambassadors from prosecution in foreign countries."

a strong directive or order from an authority

"The court gave an injunction."

"The judge issued a temporary injunction to halt the controversial construction project immediately."

the quality of being acceptable by the law

"The legitimacy is clear."

"The court questioned the legitimacy of the evidence presented by the prosecution during the trial."

something that is required as a precondition for something else following

"A degree is a prerequisite."

"Completing an introductory course is a prerequisite for enrolling in the advanced level class."

formal and official approval or authorization

"We need sanction."

"The new policy requires official sanction from the board of directors before implementation."

legally required to be followed and cannot be avoided

"The contract is binding."

"The contract is binding so you cannot change your mind after signing it without penalty."

persuasive in a way that captures attention or convinces effectively

"The evidence is compelling."

"The evidence is compelling and leaves no doubt that he committed the crime."

having great importance and requiring immediate attention or action

"It is imperative."

"It is imperative that you wear a seatbelt every time you drive because it could save your life."