Last updated: October 20, 2026
Society questions ask what governments should do about cities, crime, housing, and public services. These words help you discuss policies and their effects on people.
Each word below has a short meaning and an example sentence written for IELTS. The first six are the core words from our IELTS academic vocabulary list, and the other 24 build your range further. Use them in your essays and in your Speaking Part 3 answers.
If you’re looking for free IELTS Writing practice, click the button below to write an essay and get an instant AI score, including a Lexical Resource band.
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Core Society and Government Words
Start with these six. They come up again and again in IELTS questions on this topic.
Legislation
Laws, or the process of making laws.
- Stricter legislation is needed to reduce plastic waste.
Infrastructure
Basic systems such as roads, water, and power.
- Rapid urbanisation puts pressure on a city’s infrastructure.
Public funding
Money provided by the government.
- Museums should receive public funding so that entry can stay free.
Ageing population
A population with a growing share of older people.
- An ageing population increases the cost of healthcare and pensions.
Urbanisation
The movement of people from the countryside to cities.
- Urbanisation has led to a shortage of affordable housing.
Deterrent
Something that makes people decide not to do something.
- Some argue that long prison sentences are an effective deterrent.
24 More Society and Government Words
Once you know the core words, these help you add precision and avoid repeating yourself.
Social cohesion
A sense of unity and shared values in a society.
- Community events can strengthen social cohesion.
Welfare
Government help for people who are poor or in need.
- Welfare payments protect families from extreme poverty.
Public transport
Buses, trains, and other transport available to everyone.
- Cheap public transport reduces the number of cars on the road.
Affordable housing
Homes that people on ordinary incomes can pay for.
- The government must build more affordable housing.
Congestion
Too much traffic in a place.
- Congestion charges have reduced traffic in some city centres.
Poverty
The state of being very poor.
- Education is the most effective way out of poverty.
Crime rate
The amount of crime in a place.
- Better street lighting can lower the crime rate.
Rehabilitation
Helping someone return to normal life, for example after prison.
- Prisons should focus on rehabilitation, not just punishment.
Law enforcement
The work of making people obey the law.
- Law enforcement agencies need more resources to fight online crime.
Civic responsibility
The duties people have as citizens.
- Voting is an important civic responsibility.
Taxpayer
A person who pays tax.
- Taxpayers should not have to fund expensive vanity projects.
Policymaker
A person who decides government policy.
- Policymakers must consider the needs of rural areas.
Social mobility
The ability to move to a higher social or economic position.
- Free university education increases social mobility.
Homelessness
The state of having no home.
- Rising rents have led to an increase in homelessness.
Discrimination
Unfair treatment of a person or group.
- Laws against discrimination protect workers.
Equality
Having the same rights and opportunities as others.
- Gender equality in pay has improved but is not yet complete.
Overcrowding
Having too many people in a place.
- Overcrowding puts pressure on schools and hospitals.
Densely populated
Having many people living in a small area.
- Densely populated cities need efficient public services.
Regulate
To control something with rules.
- Governments should regulate how companies use personal data.
The elderly
Old people as a group.
- Families increasingly rely on care homes to look after the elderly.
Community
The people who live in the same area.
- Local libraries are at the heart of the community.
Juvenile crime
Crime committed by young people.
- Youth clubs can help to reduce juvenile crime.
Bureaucracy
Complicated official rules and procedures.
- Excessive bureaucracy discourages people from starting businesses.
Public services
Services such as healthcare and education provided by the state.
- Higher taxes may be needed to maintain public services.
Using These Words in IELTS Writing
Lexical Resource is a quarter of your Writing band. Examiners look for a range of topic words used accurately and in natural combinations, not for the longest words you know.
- Use a few well, not many badly. Three or four precise words in an essay are worth more than ten forced ones.
- Learn the word with its partners. Note the collocations in each example sentence, such as the verb that goes with a noun.
- Paraphrase the question. Topic words help you restate the question in your introduction without copying it.
Try these words in a real IELTS Writing Task 2 question:
For natural word pairs on this topic, see our IELTS collocations by topic, and to connect your ideas, our IELTS linking words.
Using These Words in IELTS Speaking Part 3
Lexical Resource also counts for a quarter of your Speaking band. Part 3 is where these words fit best: the examiner asks abstract questions about society, causes, and the future, and a precise topic word shows the range that band 7 and above require. In Part 1, everyday words usually sound more natural.
- Use the word in your own sentence. Memorised phrases are easy for examiners to spot.
- Keep the tone conversational. Mix academic words with natural spoken phrases such as “I’d say” and “on top of that”.
- Support every word with an example. A topic word followed by a real example is what develops a Part 3 answer.
Sample Part 3 answer
I think the first step is to invest in infrastructure, especially public transport, because congestion makes daily life exhausting. Secondly, governments should build more affordable housing, since high rents push families into overcrowding. And finally, they could provide public funding for parks and community centres, which helps people feel part of the city they live in.
The words in bold are from this page. Notice that each one is part of a natural spoken sentence, followed by a reason or an example.
Practise using these words in a real IELTS Speaking Part 3 answer:
For more questions and the answer patterns that fit them, see our IELTS Speaking Part 3 questions.
More IELTS Academic Vocabulary
Each page has 30 words with examples. For the six core words of every topic on one page, see our IELTS academic vocabulary list.
Education Environment Technology Health Work and the Economy Culture and Globalisation Presenting an Argument Cause and Effect Describing Data
Frequently Asked Questions
helpWhat vocabulary do I need for IELTS society and government topics?expand_moreexpand_less
Learn words for public policy and social problems, such as legislation, public funding, affordable housing, and social cohesion. Many Task 2 questions ask what governments should do.
helpHow can I use society vocabulary in IELTS Speaking?expand_moreexpand_less
Part 3 questions often ask how governments could improve cities or reduce crime. Words such as infrastructure and public transport help you suggest specific solutions.
helpHow do I remember society and government vocabulary for IELTS?expand_moreexpand_less
Learn each word with an example sentence and the words it is usually used with, review the list a few times a week, and use three or four of the words in every practice essay and Speaking Part 3 answer until they feel natural.