Y08W02VC Theme Words — Social justice

This module focuses on vocabulary connected to the theme of Social justice. The words in this set are used when discussing fairness, rights, inequality, and systemic change in society. Many of these terms appear in non-fiction, media, and academic writing. Developing fluency with this vocabulary helps students engage critically with contemporary social and political issues.

Word in Context (Theme: Social justice)

These three words connect to the theme of Social justice. As you read, notice how each word helps you discuss this topic with clearer, more precise and more mature language.

marginalise

/ˈmɑːdʒɪnəlaɪz/

mar‑gin‑al‑ise

verb | [marginalise – marginalised – marginalised]

To treat a person or group as unimportant, pushing them to the edges of society and denying them full participation or voice.

Word Breakdown: -ise (suffix meaning ‘to make or cause to become’, forming a verb from the adjective ‘marginal’)

Word family: marginalisation (n.), marginalised (adj.)

Example: Discriminatory policies have historically marginalised communities who already face significant disadvantage.

Synonyms: exclude, sideline, disadvantage

Collocations: marginalise communities, marginalised groups, historically marginalised

systemic

/sɪˈstɛmɪk/

sys‑tem‑ic

adjective

Relating to a system as a whole rather than to individual parts; describing a problem or feature that is built into the structures or workings of a system.

Word family: systemically (adv.)

Example: Activists argued that the barriers facing disadvantaged students were systemic and could not be solved by individual effort alone.

Synonyms: structural, institutional, widespread

Collocations: systemic racism, systemic inequality, systemic change

reform

/rɪˈfɔːm/

re‑form

noun

A change made to improve a system, law, or organisation, especially to make it fairer or more effective.

Word family: reformer (n.), reform (v.), reformed (adj.)

Example: Many advocates called for urgent reform of the justice system to address ongoing inequalities.

Synonyms: change, improvement, overhaul

Collocations: call for reform, policy reform, social reform

Academic Vocab

feature

/ˈfiːtʃə/

fea‑ture

noun

A distinctive or notable quality, characteristic, or aspect of something that sets it apart or makes it identifiable.

Word family: featured (adj.), featureless (adj.)

Example: One key feature of her argument was the range of evidence she drew on from multiple sources.

Synonyms: characteristic, quality, aspect

Collocations: key feature, distinctive feature, central feature

interpret

/ɪnˈtɜːprɪt/

in‑ter‑pret

verb | [interpret – interpreted – interpreted]

To explain or understand the meaning of something — such as a text, data, event, or action — in a particular way.

Word Breakdown: inter- (prefix meaning ‘between’ or ‘among’, suggesting the act of mediating meaning)

Word family: interpretation (n.), interpretive (adj.)

Example: Different readers may interpret the same poem in very different ways depending on their own experiences.

Synonyms: understand, explain, read

Collocations: interpret data, interpret a text, interpret as

maintain

/meɪnˈteɪn/

main‑tain

verb | [maintain – maintained – maintained]

To keep something in its current state or condition, or to assert and uphold a position or belief consistently.

Word family: maintenance (n.), maintained (adj.)

Example: The writer maintains throughout the essay that access to education is a fundamental human right.

Synonyms: uphold, sustain, assert

Collocations: maintain a position, maintain that, maintain standards

obtain

/əbˈteɪn/

ob‑tain

verb | [obtain – obtained – obtained]

To succeed in gaining or getting something, especially through effort or a formal process.

Word Breakdown: ob- (prefix meaning ‘towards’ or ‘in the way of’, intensifying the action of getting)

Word family: obtainable (adj.)

Example: Students who cannot obtain the resources they need are at a significant disadvantage.

Synonyms: gain, acquire, secure

Collocations: obtain information, obtain access, obtain permission

potential

/pəˈtɛnʃəl/

po‑ten‑tial

adjective

Capable of becoming something in the future; describing what is possible rather than what has already happened.

Word family: potentially (adv.), potentiality (n.)

Example: Every student has the potential to improve when given the right support and encouragement.

Synonyms: possible, likely, prospective

Collocations: potential impact, potential for, full potential

this suggests

/ðɪs səˈdʒɛsts/

this sug‑gests

phrase

A writing function phrase used to introduce an interpretation or inference drawn from evidence, without stating it as certain fact.

Example: The data shows a widening gap between rich and poor; this suggests that current policies are not achieving their goals.

Synonyms: this indicates, this implies, this points to

Collocations: this suggests that, this suggests a link, this strongly suggests

Confusing Words

argues vs suggests / implies

Argues, suggests, and implies are all used in formal writing when discussing what a writer or text is communicating, but they differ in strength and certainty.

  • argues — Argues is the strongest of the three. It means the writer is actively making a claim or taking a clear position: 'The author argues that the law should change.'
  • suggests — Suggests is more cautious. It means the evidence points towards an idea without proving it completely: 'The data suggests that access to services is unequal.'
  • implies — Implies means a meaning is hinted at rather than directly stated: 'The report implies that the problem is larger than first expected.'

Memory rule: A useful rule: use argues for a clear position, suggests for a likely conclusion and implies for a meaning that is hinted rather than directly stated.