Word sets: Academic English166 words
- compactB2adjectivesmall, with all the parts fitting neatly into a small space
- diagramB1nouna simple drawing that shows how something works or how its parts are arranged
- tropicalB1adjectivefrom or typical of the hot, wet parts of the world near the equator
- morphologyC1nounthe study of how words are formed from smaller parts, such as prefixes and endings
- therebyC1adverbas a result of the action just mentioned; by doing this
- syntaxC1nounthe rules for how words are arranged to make correct sentences
- defectC1nouna fault or weakness in something that stops it from being perfect
- separationB2nounthe act of separating things or people, or a period when people live apart
- convergenceC1nounthe process of moving toward the same point or becoming more similar
- sufficientlyB2adverbas much as is needed for a particular purpose
- validB2adjectivebased on good reasons or facts, so it deserves to be taken seriously; also officially acceptable
- interfaceB2nounthe way a person or program connects to a computer system, such as the screen and buttons you use
- radiationB1nounenergy that travels as invisible waves or particles, from things like the sun, X-rays or nuclear material
- verticalC1adjectivestanding or pointing straight up, at an angle of 90 degrees to the ground
- embedC2verbto fix something firmly inside a material or a larger system
- acuteB2adjectivevery severe or serious, or (of a sense or the mind) very sharp
- utilityB2nouna service such as electricity, water or gas that people pay for; also usefulness
- complementB1nounsomething that goes well with another thing and makes it better or complete
- verbalB2adjectiveusing spoken words rather than writing or actions
- aggregateC1adjectiveformed by adding several separate amounts or parts together into a total
- equalityB2nounthe situation in which all people have the same rights, chances and treatment
- corpusC1nouna big set of real texts or recordings used to study how a language works; also, a writer's complete works
- organB1nouna body part like the heart or lungs that has a special job; also a large keyboard instrument
- gradientC1nounthe steepness of a slope, or a gradual change in a quantity from one point to another
- methodologyC2nounthe set of methods and principles used in a particular study or kind of work
- entityC1nounsomething that exists as a separate unit, such as a company, organization or legal body
- tumorB2nouna lump of cells that grow in the body in a way that is not normal
- fiberB2nounthe part of plant food that helps digestion; also a thin thread of material
- paradigmC2nouna model or set of ideas that shapes how people think about a subject
- psychologyB2nounthe study of the mind and how it affects behavior; also the way a person or group thinks
- infiniteB2adjectivewithout any limit or end; extremely great
- diverseB1adjectiveincluding many different types of people or things
- diagnosticC1adjectiveused to find out what is wrong with a person, machine or system
- continuityC1nounthe state of continuing without stopping or changing, especially over a long time
- outerB1adjectiveon the outside, or further from the center
- notationC1nouna system of written signs or symbols used to show things such as music or numbers
- probeB2nouna careful investigation into something; also a spacecraft or tool sent to collect information
- migrationB2nounthe movement of people or animals from one place to another, often in large numbers
- mathematicalB2adjectiveconnected with mathematics, or done with the exact methods of mathematics
- likelihoodC1nounhow probable it is that something will happen
- comparableB2adjectivesimilar enough in size, quality or amount to be fairly compared
- magnitudeC1nounthe great size or importance of something; also the strength of an earthquake
- inclusionC1nounthe act of including someone or something, or making sure everyone can take part and is treated fairly
- emissionC1noungas or another substance sent out into the air, or the act of sending it out
- inferenceB2nouna conclusion you reach from the facts you have, not from being told directly
- consciousnessB2nounthe state of being awake and able to notice things; also awareness of an issue
- simultaneouslyB1adverbat exactly the same time
- disturbanceB1nounsomething that interrupts or annoys people, or a situation where people fight or shout in public
- hierarchyB2nouna system that ranks people or things in levels from the highest to the lowest
- rotationB2nounthe movement of something in a circle around a center, or a system of taking turns
- validityC1nounthe quality of being based on truth or reason, or of being officially acceptable
- periodicC1adjectivehappening regularly, but not all the time, with gaps of time in between
- archaeologyB2nounthe study of the past by digging up and examining old buildings, tools and other objects
- modificationB2nouna small change made to something to improve it or make it suitable
- partitionC1nounthe division of a country or area into separate parts, or a wall that divides a room
- initiateC1verbto start something, such as a plan, process or discussion
- autonomyC1nounthe freedom to make your own decisions without being controlled by others
- inhibitC1verbto make something slower or less likely to happen, or to stop someone from acting freely
- consonantB1nouna speech sound made by partly stopping the air with your tongue, lips or teeth, or a letter for it
- biologyB1nounthe scientific study of living things such as plants and animals
- scenarioC1nouna description of what could possibly happen in the future or in a particular situation
- conditionalC1adjectivedepending on something else happening or being done first
- contraryC1adjectivecompletely different or opposite to something else
- lateralC1adjectiveat, to or from the side of something
- injectionB2nounputting a drug into the body with a needle; also adding a large amount of money to something
- effectivenessB2nounhow well something works or produces the result that was wanted
- calculusC1nouna type of advanced mathematics that deals with change, such as speed and curves
- usageB1nounthe way words are used in a language; also the amount of something that is used
- longitudinalC1adjectivefollowing the same people or things over a long period of time
- neutralB1adjectivenot supporting either side in an argument or war; also not strong or bright in color
- marginalC1adjectivesmall in amount or effect, and not very important
- clientB2nounsomeone who pays an expert, agency or firm to do a job for them or give them advice
- characterizationC1nounthe way a writer or actor creates a character and shows what kind of person they are
- ethicalC1adjectiveconnected with what is right and wrong; also, morally right
- superiorB2adjectivebetter or of higher quality than something else; also higher in rank
- approximateB2adjectiveclose to an exact number or amount but not completely correct
- convergeC1verbto move toward the same point and meet there, or to become more alike
- comprehensionB2nounthe ability to understand something, especially spoken or written language
- implicitC1adjectivesuggested or understood without being said directly; also complete and without doubt
- spanB2verbto last for a period of time, or to cover an area or go across something
- oxygenB1nouna gas in the air that people, animals and plants need to live
- formulationC1nounthe careful preparation of a plan or idea, or the particular way something is expressed or mixed
- dialectB2nouna form of a language used in one region or social group, with its own words and grammar
- colonyB2nouna country or area controlled by another country, or a group of animals living together
- immuneB2adjectiveprotected from a disease, or not affected by something
- loopB2nouna shape made by a line that curves around and crosses or meets itself
- algebraB2nouna type of mathematics that uses letters and symbols to stand for numbers
- derivativeC1adjectivecopying or based on other people's work, with little that is new or original
- appendixB2nounextra pages at the back of a book or report that give more detailed information
- overviewB2nouna short general description that gives the main points of something
- diffusionC1nounthe slow spread of something, such as a gas, light, an idea or a custom, over a wide area
- specimenC1nounone example or a small amount of something, taken to be studied or tested
- assertB2verbto say firmly that something is true; also, to show clearly that you have power or rights
- widespreadB1adjectivehappening in many places or among many people
- competenceB2nounthe ability to do something well or to the required standard
- residualC2adjectiveremaining after most of something has gone or been used
- fusionC1nounthe joining of two or more things into one; in physics, the joining of atoms to release energy
- conservationB1nounthe protection of nature, old buildings or resources so they are not damaged or used up
- constrainC1verbto limit what someone or something can do or how much can happen
- virtueB2nouna good quality in a person's character, such as honesty or patience; also an advantage
- differentiateB2verbto see or show the difference between two or more things
- partiallyB2adverbnot completely, but to some degree
- preliminaryB2adjectivecoming before the main part of something, often to prepare for it
- philosophicalB2adjectiverelating to philosophy; also staying calm when something bad happens
- transactionB2nounone act of buying, selling or moving money, especially through a bank
- prominentC1adjectiveimportant and well known; also easy to see or notice
- indigenousB2adjectivebelonging naturally to a place; used for the original people, plants or animals of a region
- renderC1verbto cause something to be in a particular state; also to express something in art or another language
- independentlyB2adverbwithout help or control from other people; also separately, without being connected
- symbolicB2adjectiverepresenting an idea or feeling, often more important for its meaning than its practical effect
- utilizeB2verbto use something in an effective or practical way
- physiologicalC2adjectiveconnected with how the bodies of living things work
- indirectB1adjectivenot happening or done in a straight or obvious way; caused by something in a less clear way
- calciumB2nouna soft white mineral in bones, teeth and milk that the body needs to stay strong
- assemblyB2nouna group of people who meet to make laws or decisions; also the process of putting parts together
- strictlyB2adverbin a way that must be obeyed exactly; also exactly or only
- unityB2nounthe state of being joined together as one, or of people agreeing and working together
- psychiatricC1adjectiverelating to the study and medical treatment of mental illness
- critiqueC1nouna detailed written or spoken judgment of the good and bad points of something
- differentiationC1nounthe process of seeing or showing the differences between things, or of making something different
- closureB2nounthe closing of a place or business, for good or for a time; also a feeling that something has ended
- minimizeB2verbto make something bad, such as a risk or cost, as small as possible
- selectiveC1adjectivecareful about choosing only the best or most suitable people or things
- availabilityB2nounwhether something can be bought, used or got, or whether someone is free to do something
- depictC1verbto show or describe someone or something in a picture, film or piece of writing
- cueC1nouna signal or hint that tells someone what to do or when to do it
- parentalC1adjectiveconnected with parents or with being a parent
- ritualB2nouna set of actions done in a fixed way, for religious reasons or as a regular habit
- fertilityC1nounthe ability to produce children or young; the ability of soil to grow good crops
- adjacentC1adjectivenext to or very near something else, often sharing a wall or border
- readilyB2adverbquickly and easily; also willingly, without needing to be asked twice
- observerB2nounsomeone who watches or notices something, or whose job is to watch an event and report on it
- inhibitionC1nouna shy or nervous feeling that stops you from behaving naturally or saying what you want
- questionnaireB1nouna set of written questions that many people answer to give information for a study
- generalizationB2nouna broad statement that something is true in most cases, often based on too few facts
- qualitativeC2adjectiveabout the nature or quality of something rather than about numbers or amounts
- tenseB1adjectivenervous and worried, so you cannot relax; also used for muscles that feel tight
- transcriptionC1nouna written copy of spoken words, or of sounds written in special symbols
- locallyB2adverbin or near the area where you live or the place being talked about
- nutrientB1nouna substance in food that living things need to grow and stay healthy
- reinforceB2verbto make an idea, belief or feeling stronger; to make a structure stronger
- statisticallyC1adverbin a way that relates to numbers and data collected and studied
- simulateC1verbto copy how something real looks or works, often with a computer, in order to study or practice it
- denseB2adjectivehaving a lot of things or people close together; (of fog or smoke) thick and hard to see through
- ecologyB1nounthe relationship between living things and their environment, or the study of it
- terminalB1nouna building at an airport, or a station where buses or trains start and end their journeys
- informalB2adjectiverelaxed and friendly, not official or serious; suitable for friends and family
- dischargeB2nounthe release of a liquid or gas into a place; also being officially allowed to leave a hospital or job
- adaptiveC1adjectiveable to change in order to suit new conditions
- ecologicalB2adjectiveconnected with the relationship between living things and their environment
- protocolB2nounan official set of rules for how to do something or how to behave in a situation
- aestheticC1adjectiveconnected with beauty and art, or with the way something looks
- exploitB2verbto treat someone unfairly for your own benefit; also, to use something fully to gain an advantage
- agricultureB1nounthe work or science of farming: growing crops and raising animals
- practitionerC2nounsomeone who works in a skilled job such as medicine or law, or who regularly does a particular activity
- equivalenceC1nounthe state of being equal in value, meaning or importance
- pragmaticC1adjectivedealing with problems in a practical, sensible way rather than following theories or ideals
- productivityC1nounhow much a person, machine or company produces compared with the time or money used
- arrowB1nouna sign with a pointed end that shows direction, or a thin pointed stick shot from a bow
- reproduceC1verbto make a copy of something or do it again; also to produce babies or young
- commentaryB2nounspoken or written remarks that explain an event or give opinions on a subject
- residueC2nouna small amount of something that remains after most of it has gone or been used
- unstableB2adjectivelikely to change suddenly, fall, or fail; not steady or firm
- consensusB2noungeneral agreement among most members of a group about something
- simplifyB1verbto make something easier to do or understand
- radiusB2nounthe distance from the middle of a circle to its edge, or the area within a set distance
Word list: New Academic Word List 1.2 (Browne, Culligan & Phillips), CC BY-SA 4.0. Only words with a full Gloss page are included, in the list’s order.