English Synonyms for Latin Phrases and Expressions Vocabulary Words – Online Quiz!

ab-initio (adverb) /ˌab ɪˈnɪʃɪəʊ/
Meaning: Latin for "from the start", it is often used to indicate that something is being done or considered from the beginning or starting point, rather than being based on previous work or knowledge.
Find the synonym: Which option is closest in meaning to ab-initio?
Options: from-the-beginning; end; conclusion; finale
Answer: from-the-beginning
Synonyms: baseline; commencement; dawn; genesis; inception; initially; onset; originally; outset
Example: "They decided to start the project ab initio due to the amount of errors in the original work."

ad-nauseam (adverb) /ˌad ˈnɔːzɪəm/
Meaning: It is derived from the Latin phrase "ad nauseam," which means "to sickness," and it is commonly used in both formal and informal contexts.
Find the synonym: Which option is closest in meaning to ad-nauseam?
Options: repetitively; seldom; rarely; occasionally
Answer: repetitively
Synonyms: ceaselessly; endlessly; excessively; exhaustively; incessantly; interminably; monotonously; persistently; relentlessly; repeatedly; repetitively; tediously
Example: "He was accused of repeating the same point ad nauseam."

anno-domini (adverb) /ˌanəʊ ˈdɒmɪnʌɪ/
Meaning: "Anno Domini" is a Latin phrase that translates to "in the year of the Lord.
Find the synonym: Which option is closest in meaning to anno-domini?
Options: in-the-year-of-the-Lord; before-Christ; prehistoric; ancient
Answer: in-the-year-of-the-Lord
Synonyms: annually; calendrical; chronologically; cyclically; datedly; historically; periodically; seasonally; yearly
Example: "The Anno Domini system is based on the birth of Jesus Christ."

bona-fide (adjective) /ˌbəʊnə ˈfʌɪdi/
Meaning: When something is labeled as bona fide, it signifies its true and legitimate nature, indicating that it is exactly as it appears or claims to be.
Find the synonym: Which option is closest in meaning to bona-fide?
Options: authentic; fake; fraudulent; counterfeit
Answer: authentic
Synonyms: actual; authentic; credible; genuine; honest; incontestable; incontrovertible; indisputable; lawful; legitimate; proper; real
Example: "After thorough examination, the expert confirmed that the painting was a bona fide masterpiece."

carpe-diem (interjection) /ˌkɑːpeɪ ˈdiːɛm/
Meaning: "Carpe diem" is a Latin phrase that translates to "seize the day.
Find the synonym: Which option is closest in meaning to carpe-diem?
Options: seize-the-day; procrastinate; delay; postpone
Answer: seize-the-day
Synonyms: capitalize; embrace; enjoy; exploit; grasp; live; maximize; relish; savor; seize
Example: "He always lived by the philosophy of carpe diem, seizing the day."

caveat-emptor (noun) /ˌkavɪat ˈɛmptɔː/
Meaning: "Caveat emptor" is a Latin phrase that translates to "let the buyer beware.
Find the synonym: Which option is closest in meaning to caveat-emptor?
Options: buyer-beware; seller-responsibility; vendor-liability; dealer-accountability
Answer: buyer-beware
Synonyms: caution; circumspection; discretion; guardedness; mindfulness; prudence; scrupulousness; skepticism; vigilance; wariness; watchfulness
Example: "The principle of caveat emptor applies to all sales transactions."

circa (preposition) /ˈsəːkə/
Meaning: Latin for "around" or "about.
Find the synonym: Which option is closest in meaning to circa?
Options: approximately; precisely; exactly; specifically
Answer: approximately
Synonyms: about; approximately; around; closely; nearby; nearly; roughly; some
Example: "The event is said to have occurred circa the year 1900."

de-facto (adjective) /deɪ ˈfaktəʊ/
Meaning: "De facto" is a Latin phrase that translates to "in fact" or "in reality.
Find the synonym: Which option is closest in meaning to de-facto?
Options: in-practice; de-jure; official; formal
Answer: in-practice
Synonyms: actual; customary; effective; functional; implicit; operative; practical; real; really; true; unofficial; unwritten
Example: "The de-facto leader of the team made all the decisions."

ergo (adverb) /ˈəːɡəʊ/
Meaning: Latin for "therefore".
Find the synonym: Which option is closest in meaning to ergo?
Options: therefore; nonetheless; despite; irrespective
Answer: therefore
Synonyms: accordingly; consequently; hence; then; thereupon; thus; thusly; so
Example: "The evidence supports the claim, ergo it is likely true."

erratum (noun) /ɛˈrɑːtəm/
Meaning: Latin for "error" or "mistake.
Find the synonym: Which option is closest in meaning to erratum?
Options: error; perfection; accuracy; correctness
Answer: error
Synonyms: blunder; correction; corrigendum; error; fault; flaw; inaccuracy; misprint; mistake; omission; oversight; rectification
Example: "There was an erratum in the newspaper's front-page article."

exempli-gratia (adverb) /ekˈsem.pliː ˈɡraː.ti.aː/
Meaning: Latin for "for the sake of example.
Find the synonym: Which option is closest in meaning to exempli-gratia?
Options: for-example; in-general; broadly; universally
Answer: for-example
Synonyms: especially; expressly; including; like; namely; notably; particularly; precisely; say; specifically; viz
Example: "The report provides several examples, such as, exempli gratia, the increase in revenue."

ex-gratia (adjective) /ˌɛks ˈɡreɪʃə/
Meaning: When something is deemed ex-gratia, it implies that it is done voluntarily and as a compassionate or gratuitous act to provide assistance or compensation in cases where there may not be a legal or contractual obligation to do so.
Find the synonym: Which option is closest in meaning to ex-gratia?
Options: voluntarily; obligatory; compulsory; mandatory
Answer: voluntarily
Synonyms: complimentary; discretionary; free; goodwill; gratuitous; honorary; unmerited; unobligated; unpaid; unrequested; unrewarded; voluntary
Example: "She received an ex gratia compensation for the loss of her property."

ex-officio (adverb) /ˌɛks əˈfɪʃɪəʊ/
Meaning: When someone does something ex-officio, it means they are carrying out a duty or responsibility that is automatically attached to their official position.
Find the synonym: Which option is closest in meaning to ex-officio?
Options: by-virtue-of-office; elected; chosen; appointed
Answer: by-virtue-of-office
Synonyms: approved; authorized; automatically; certified; inalienably; inherently; intrinsically; legitimately; licensed; natural; necessary; officially
Example: "As the chairman, he is ex-officio a member of all subcommittees, guiding our decisions."

gratis (adverb) /ˈɡratɪs/
Meaning: Latin for "free" or "without charge.
Find the synonym: Which option is closest in meaning to gratis?
Options: free; costly; expensive; paid
Answer: free
Synonyms: complimentary; costless; free; freebie; freely; gift; given; gratuitously; pro-bono; uncharged; unpaid
Example: "The company is offering a free trial, gratis, for new customers."

habeas-corpus (noun) /ˌheɪbɪəs ˈkɔːpəs/
Meaning: "Habeas corpus" is a Latin phrase that translates to "you may have the body.
Find the synonym: Which option is closest in meaning to habeas-corpus?
Options: legal-protection; detention; imprisonment; confinement
Answer: legal-protection
Synonyms: apology; arraignment; charge; citation; claim; demand; hearing; litigation; mandate; plea; process; subpoena
Example: "The lawyer argued for the prisoner's right to habeas corpus."

ipso-facto (adverb) /ˌɪpsəʊ ˈfaktəʊ/
Meaning: "Ipso facto" is a Latin phrase that translates to "by the fact itself.
Find the synonym: Which option is closest in meaning to ipso-facto?
Options: by-the-fact-itself; debatable; questionable; uncertain
Answer: by-the-fact-itself
Synonyms: automatically; consequently; definitively; inescapably; inevitably; inherently; intrinsically; necessarily; unavoidably
Example: "His expertise, ipso-facto, made him the go-to consultant in the industry."

magnum-opus (noun) /ˌmaɡnəm ˈəʊpəs/
Meaning: The term is most commonly associated with the world of art, literature, and music, but it can also be used in other fields such as science, engineering, and architecture.
Find the synonym: Which option is closest in meaning to magnum-opus?
Options: masterpiece; failure; flop; disaster
Answer: masterpiece
Synonyms: achievement; crowning; glory; greatness; masterpiece; opus; piece-de-resistance; pinnacle; tour-de-force; triumph; ultimate
Example: "She worked on her magnum opus for over a decade before it was finally published."

modus-operandi (noun) /ˌməʊdəs ˌɒpəˈrandiː/
Meaning: "Modus operandi" is a Latin phrase that translates to "mode of operating" or "method of working.
Find the synonym: Which option is closest in meaning to modus-operandi?
Options: method; disorder; chaos; haphazardness
Answer: method
Synonyms: approach; method; operation; practice; procedure; process; strategy; style; system; tactic; technique
Example: "She was able to predict the company's next move based on their modus operandi."

per-se (adverb) /pəː ˈseɪ/
Meaning: Latin for "in itself.
Find the synonym: Which option is closest in meaning to per-se?
Options: intrinsically; indirectly; secondarily; extrinsically
Answer: intrinsically
Synonyms: basically; directly; essentially; fundamentally; inherently; intrinsically; naturally; purely; simply; solely
Example: "The statement is not racist per se, but it can be interpreted as such."

pro-bono (adverb) /prəʊ ˈbəʊnəʊ/
Meaning: When someone offers their services pro bono, it means they are doing so out of a sense of goodwill, often to help those who may not have the financial means to afford such services.
Find the synonym: Which option is closest in meaning to pro-bono?
Options: voluntary; paid; commercial; for-profit
Answer: voluntary
Synonyms: benevolent; charitable; complimentary; costless; free; gratis; unpaid; voluntary
Example: "She offered her consulting services pro bono to the non-profit organization."

quid-pro-quo (noun) /ˌkwɪd prəʊ ˈkwəʊ/
Meaning: The phrase is derived from Latin and means "something for something.
Find the synonym: Which option is closest in meaning to quid-pro-quo?
Options: exchange; gift; donation; freebie
Answer: exchange
Synonyms: barter; compensation; exchange; reciprocity; recompense; repayment; swap; trade-off
Example: "The negotiation resulted in a fair quid-pro-quo agreement."

status-quo (noun) /ˌsteɪtəs ˈkwəʊ/
Meaning: It represents the way things are at a given point in time, without any significant changes or disruptions.
Find the synonym: Which option is closest in meaning to status-quo?
Options: norm; change; revolution; innovation
Answer: norm
Synonyms: conformity; conservatism; established; norm; preservation; routine; stability; steadiness; traditionalism; unchanged; unvariedness
Example: "She was unhappy with the status quo and worked to bring about reform."

tabula-rasa (noun) /ˌtabjʊlə ˈrɑːzə/
Meaning: "Tabula rasa" is a Latin phrase that translates to "blank slate.
Find the synonym: Which option is closest in meaning to tabula-rasa?
Options: blank-slate; preconceived; biased; predisposed
Answer: blank-slate
Synonyms: blank; canvas; clean; emptiness; fresh; innocence; naivety; unconditioned; undeveloped; unformed; unlearned; unmarked
Example: "The philosopher's theory of tabula rasa suggests that individuals are born with a blank slate."

terra-firma (noun) /ˌtɛrə ˈfəːmə/
Meaning: The noun "terra firma" is a Latin term that translates to "solid ground" or "firm earth" in English.
Find the synonym: Which option is closest in meaning to terra-firma?
Options: solid-ground; water; sea; ocean
Answer: solid-ground
Synonyms: dirt; dryland; earth; ground; hardstand; land; landmass; mainland; soil; terrain
Example: "The astronauts were excited to return to terra firma after their mission in space."

viva-voce (adjective) /ˌvʌɪvəˈvəʊtʃi/
Meaning: "Viva voce" is a Latin phrase that translates to "by live voice.
Find the synonym: Which option is closest in meaning to viva-voce?
Options: orally; written; in-writing; documented
Answer: orally
Synonyms: articulated; expressed; oral; spoken; talked; unwritten; verbal; vocal; voiced
Example: "The examiner scheduled my viva-voce examination for next Monday."

vox-populi (noun) /ˌvɒks ˈpɒpjʊlʌɪ/
Meaning: The noun "vox populi," derived from Latin, translates to "voice of the people" in English.
Find the synonym: Which option is closest in meaning to vox-populi?
Options: public-opinion; leadership; authority; elite
Answer: public-opinion
Synonyms: attitude; belief; consensus; feeling; majority; mindset; mood; opinion; perception; sentiment; stance; unison
Example: "She disregarded the vox populi and stuck to her own beliefs."