Example 1
Choose the one word for: One who eats both plants and flesh.
Answer: A) Omnivore
Omnivore: one who eats both plants and flesh.
One Word Substitution questions for competitive exams: rules, worked examples and practice
One-word substitution questions give a phrase and ask for the single word that means the same.
Key rules and formulas
- Learn common groups: -cide (killing), -cracy (rule), -phobia (fear), -logy (study).
- Examples: autobiography (life written by oneself), philanthropist (one who loves mankind).
- Use roots to work out unfamiliar words.
- Match the exact meaning, not a related idea.
Common traps
- Confusing similar words (biography vs autobiography).
- Picking a word that covers only part of the phrase.
Where One Word Substitution is asked
- IBPS Clerk Prelims (English Language)
- IBPS PO Prelims (English Language)
- SBI Clerk Prelims (English Language)
- SBI PO Prelims (English Language)
- SSC CGL Tier 1 (English Comprehension)
- SSC CGL Tier 2 (English Language & Comprehension)
- SSC CHSL Tier 1 (English Language)
Worked examples
Example 2
Choose the one word for: One who cannot read or write.
Answer: D) Illiterate
Illiterate: one who cannot read or write.
Example 3
Choose the one word for: Fear of heights.
Answer: A) Acrophobia
Acrophobia: fear of heights.
More One Word Substitution practice questions
- Choose the one word for: One who walks in sleep.
- Choose the one word for: A person who hates mankind.
- Choose the one word for: Rule by a small group of people.
- Choose the one word for: A speech made without preparation.
- Choose the one word for: A person who loves mankind.
- Choose the one word for: A list of books referred to in a work.
- Choose the one word for: Life history of a person written by himself or herself.
- Choose the one word for: A cure for all diseases.
- Choose the one word for: Killing of one's own brother.
- Choose the one word for: The study of birds.
- Choose the one word for: The study of insects.
- Choose the one word for: A place where bees are kept.
- Choose the one word for: Animals that live both on land and in water.
- Choose the one word for: One who knows everything.
- Choose the one word for: Handwriting that cannot be read.
- Choose the one word for: Government by the people.
- Choose the one word for: One who does not believe in God.
Frequently asked questions
What is One Word Substitution in competitive exams?
One-word substitution questions give a phrase and ask for the single word that means the same.
Which exams ask One Word Substitution questions?
On MockBazaar, One Word Substitution questions appear in IBPS Clerk Prelims, IBPS PO Prelims, SBI Clerk Prelims, SBI PO Prelims, SSC CGL Tier 1, SSC CGL Tier 2, SSC CHSL Tier 1.
What is the most common mistake in One Word Substitution?
Confusing similar words (biography vs autobiography).