One-Word Substitution for SSC CGL
One-word substitution questions test whether you can replace a phrase with the exact word. They are common in SSC CGL vocabulary sets and are easy marks with repeated revision.
Read the phrase first, recall the word, then check the answer. Do not just read the table passively.
| Phrase | One word |
|---|---|
| A person who writes books | Author |
| A person who studies birds | Ornithologist |
| A person who studies stars and planets | Astronomer |
| A person who studies coins | Numismatist |
| A person who collects stamps | Philatelist |
| A person who studies handwriting | Graphologist |
| A person who studies animals | Zoologist |
| A person who studies plants | Botanist |
| A person who studies earthquakes | Seismologist |
| A person who studies fossils | Paleontologist |
| A person who studies languages | Linguist |
| A person who studies the origin of words | Etymologist |
| A person who makes maps | Cartographer |
| A person who loves or collects books | Bibliophile |
| A person who loves mankind | Philanthropist |
| A person who hates mankind | Misanthrope |
| A person who cannot read or write | Illiterate |
| A person who speaks many languages | Polyglot |
| A speech made without preparation | Extempore |
| Government by the people | Democracy |
| Government by a king or queen | Monarchy |
| Government by a few people | Oligarchy |
| A place where aircraft are kept | Hangar |
| A place where dead bodies are kept | Mortuary |
| The study of weather | Meteorology |
| Fear of heights | Acrophobia |
| Fear of water | Hydrophobia |
| A person who eats too much | Glutton |
| A person walking on foot | Pedestrian |
| A person who cannot be corrected | Incorrigible |
| Living or existing at the same time | Contemporary |
| Life history written by oneself | Autobiography |
| Life history written by another person | Biography |
| A word opposite in meaning | Antonym |
| A word similar in meaning | Synonym |
| Animals of a particular region | Fauna |
| Plants of a particular region | Flora |
| A person who abstains from alcohol | Teetotaller |
| A child whose parents are dead | Orphan |
| A person new to a job or skill | Novice |
Revision Method
How to revise One-Word Substitution for SSC CGL for SSC CGL without forgetting it
This list has 40 entries for quick SSC CGL revision. Do not read it once and move on. Convert it into recall practice: hide the answer column, speak the answer aloud, then attempt a mixed English or General Awareness quiz where the same facts appear under pressure.
Day 1
Read the full list once, then immediately test yourself without looking at the answers.
Day 3
Revisit only the missed entries. This is where most vocabulary and static GK retention improves.
Mock day
Practise the same area inside a timed mock so recall becomes fast enough for the SSC CGL exam.
Frequently asked questions
- How should I learn one-word substitutions for SSC CGL?
- Revise in small groups, write the phrase on one side and the word on the other, then test yourself repeatedly.
- Are one-word substitutions asked in SSC CGL?
- Yes. They are a common part of SSC English vocabulary along with synonyms, antonyms and idioms.