570 Most Common Academic Words

Words and Terms Often Encountered in Education

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Sublist 1: Most Common Academic Words 1–60

analysis: a detailed investigation of the parts of something
approach: a way of considering or doing something
area: a subject or specialization, or part of it
assessment: when you decide the value or quality of something
assume: accept something to be true without questioning it
authority: an expert on a subject
available: able to be used
benefit: an advantage or good effect
concept: an abstract or general idea
consistent: in agreement with expectations or other facts
constitutional: relating to the laws and principles of a government
context: the situation in which something exists or happens
contract: a legal agreement between people or groups
create: to make something new or invent something
data: information from which conclusions may be drawn
definition: an explanation of a word or phrase
derived: formed or developed from something else
distribution: the way in which things or people are spread about
economic: relating to money or trade
environment: the conditions one lives in and their effects
established: conventional or conforming to accepted standards
estimate: a guess of the size, number or amount of something
evidence: one or more reasons for believing something
export: to send goods to another country
factors: facts which contribute to the result of something
financial: relating to the management of money
formula: a standard way of making or doing something
function: the purpose of something, or the duty of a person
identified: recognized something by saying what it is
income: money earned by doing work or gained by investing
indicate: to show, point out, or make clear
individual: a single person or thing when compared to a group
interpretation: an explanation or opinion of what something means
involved: complicated or difficult to understand
issues: problems that people are thinking or talking about
labor: practical work which involves physical effort
legal: related to or allowed by law
legislation: a law or laws created by a government
major: more important than others of the same type
method: a way of doing something
occur: to happen, often naturally or unexpectedly
percent: in proportion to a hundred
period: any length of time
policy: an established practice or plan of what to do
principal: the first, main, or most important
procedure: a course of action intended to achieve a result
process: a series of actions taken to achieve a result
required: needed or made necessary
research: a detailed study of a subject
response: an answer or reaction to a question or statement
role: a function or part performed in a specific process
section: a distinct part of something
sector: a geographic or economic area
significant: noticeable, meaningful or important
similar: almost but not exactly the same
source: the cause of something or place it comes from
specific: relating to one thing and not others
structure: the way parts of a system or object are arranged
theory: an organized system of accepted knowledge
variable: one among a group of things which may change

Sublist 2: Most Common Academic Words 61–120

achieve: to succeed in reaching a target or aim
acquisition: the process of getting something
administration: a method of managing the affairs of an organization
affect: to influence or cause something to change
appropriate: suitable or right for a particular purpose or situation
aspects: the parts of a problem, situation or task
assistance: an act of helping to complete a task
categories: the groups by which something is classified
chapter: a part of a book or period of time
commission: a special group chosen to consider something
community: a social group of people who live in a particular area
complex: difficult to understand because of its many parts
computer: a machine which performs calculations automatically
conclusion: an opinion one reaches after careful consideration
conduct: to organize and perform a specific task
consequences: the undesired results of a particular act or situation
construction: the act of building something
consumer: a person who buys goods or services
credit: to recognize a person's contribution to a task
cultural: relating to the customs and beliefs of a certain group
design: a plan of something or how its parts are arranged
distinction: a specific difference between two similar things
elements: the basic principles of a subject of study
equation: a statement showing the equivalence of two things
evaluation: judgment of the value or quality of something
features: the important or typical parts of something
final: last
focus: the center of interest, activity, or attention
impact: a powerful effect that something has on a situation
injury: damage to a person's body after an accident or attack
institute: an organization that does scientific or educational work
investment: the act of spending time or money in pursuit of gain
items: the things which are part of a list or group
journal: a publication with a focus on a particular subject
maintenance: the act of keeping something in its present state
normal: ordinary or usual
obtained: came into possession of
participation: the act of taking part or being involved in something
perceived: saw, or generally recognized or believed to be true
positive: certain about something
potential: the capacity to develop, succeed or achieve
previous: occurring or existing before something or someone else
primary: more important than anything else
purchase: buy
range: the upper and lower limits of something
region: a geographical or physical area
regulations: rules issued by an authority
relevant: correct or suitable for a particular purpose
resident: a person who lives at a particular place
resources: money, valuable possessions, or natural materials
restricted: with limitations, or available only to a select few
security: protection of a person, property or organization
sought: simple past and past participle of seek
select: to choose, especially after careful consideration
site: a place where something was, is, or will be
strategies: detailed plans or methods for achieving success
survey: a series of questions used to gather personal data
text: the words printed on a page other than the headings
traditional: the usual ways or customs of a group of people
transfer: to move from one place to another

Sublist 3: Most Common Academic Words 121–180

alternative: something different, or a choice of something else
circumstances: the conditions which make a situation the way it is
comments: spoken or written words to express an opinion
compensation: money received for the loss or damage of something
components: all the individual parts of a system or thing
consent: voluntary agreement or permission
considerable: large or of noticeable importance
constant: unchanging, or happening frequently
constraints: conditions that limit the freedom of a system or thing
contribution: money given or part played to achieve a group aim
convention: a conference, or the accepted way of doing something
coordination: movement of the body, or management of a group
core: the central or most important part of a system or thing
corporate: relating to a group, company or corporation
corresponding: similar to or anticipated
criteria: the rules or guidelines to test or evaluate something
deduction: the act of finding a logical answer or opinion
demonstrate: to show or explain how something works
document: to record the details of a process or event
dominant: stronger than others of the same group or type
emphasis: the importance or special consideration of something
ensure: to make certain that something will happen
excluded: deliberately didn't include something
framework: an outline or basic description of a complex process
funds: money available for a specific purpose
illustrated: made clear with pictures or examples
immigration: the act of arriving at a country in order to live there
implies: suggests something without saying directly
initial: existing or occurring at the beginning
instance: an occurrence of something
interaction: communication, or the action of things on each other
justification: to explain or show that something is right or fair
layer: a distinct band, thickness, or level of something
link: a connection between two things
location: place, position or coordinates of something
maximum: an upper limit of something
minorities: groups of people who differ from the larger group
negative: bad, less than zero, contradictory, or inconclusive
outcomes: the end results or consequences of a particular event
partnership: a relationship involving close cooperation
philosophy: a system of beliefs that guide one's behavior
physical: of the body, or having material existence
proportion: the size of something when compared to the whole
published: made known to the public through writing
reaction: behavior or action as a result of a particular event
registered: recorded and accepted by a group or organization
reliance: the tendency to trust in someone or something
removed: took away
scheme: an organized plan, or an outline of a system or thing
sequence: a series, or the order in which things are arranged
sex: the state of being either female or male
shift: a change in position, direction or conditions
specified: stated clearly or described accurately
sufficient: as much as is needed for a particular purpose
task: a piece of work that is either difficult or unpleasant
technical: relating to specialized words of a specific subject
techniques: ways of doing an activity that requires skill
technology: the study of practical uses of scientific discoveries
validity: acceptance or meaningfulness based on reason
volume: a book which is published periodically or as a series

Sublist 4: Most Common Academic Words 181–240

access: the ability to get to or enter somewhere or something
adequate: enough or barely enough
annual: happening once a year
apparent: able to be understood, or seeming to exist
approximated: came near to, or estimated
attitudes: feelings or opinions about someone or something
attributed: indicated the cause of something
civil: relating to the ordinary people of a country
code: regulations, or a set of symbols that mean something
commitment: willingness to spend time or energy on something
communication: the way living things send messages to each other
concentration: the ability to think or focus carefully about one thing
conference: a meeting or event with talks about a specific subject
contrast: an obvious difference between two or more things
cycle: a series of events which repeat in a predictable order
debate: a serious discussion involving many people
despite: without taking notice of or being influenced by
dimensions: aspects, or the length, width and height of something
domestic: relating to home or country
emerged: became known, or appeared out of something
error: mistake or wrong decision
ethnic: of a national, racial, religious or linguistic group
goals: aims, purposes or targets
granted: gave or allowed someone to do something
hence: therefore, this is the reason why
hypothesis: an idea based on observation but not yet proven
implementation: the realization of a plan, idea or policy
implications: the possible consequences an event may bring
imposed: forced a rule, or made someone accept an idea
integration: to combine two or more things into a coherent whole
internal: relating to or existing inside
investigation: a detailed study of examination of a problem or crime
job: regular work, a piece of work, a responsibility or a task
label: information about the object it is fixed to
mechanism: a process or sequence of steps within a system
obvious: easy to understand
occupational: relating to work
option: something available as a choice, or the right to choose
output: the end product, or the amount of something produced
overall: in general, considering everything
parallel: similar, or of equal distance apart along two lengths
parameters: the facts or rules which limit how something is done
phase: a period of time, especially as part of a series
predicted: said that something would happen in the future
principle: a basic truth or theory
prior: coming before something else in time or importance
professional: relating to or conforming to the standards of work
project: work or a study of a subject over a period of time
promote: to raise someone or something to a higher level
regime: a particular government or controlling group or system
resolution: a course of action which is decided purposefully
retained: kept or continued to have
series: a sequence of similar or related things
statistics: a branch of applied mathematics that analyzes data
status: the relative position of someone or something
stress: to give emphasis or special attention to something
subsequent: happening after something else
sum: the total number or amount of things added together
summary: a short description of the main points of something
undertaken: done or committed to do with responsibility or effort

Sublist 5: Most Common Academic Words 241–300

academic: relating to school, college, study or theory
adjustment: making small changes, or becoming suitable
alter: to change the form or character of something
amendment: a change made to the words of a text
aware: to have knowledge or be conscious of something
capacity: the maximum that can be contained or produced
challenge: something needing effort in order to be done well
clause: a group of words with a meaning, or a legal document
compounds: substances made up of two or more elements
conflict: fighting, or disagreement between people or ideas
consultation: a meeting to discuss something or seek advice
contact: communication, or when people or things touch
decline: to get weaker or diminish, or to refuse something
discretion: careful consideration for others, or the right to choose
draft: a piece of text or plan which is not in its final form
enable: to make something possible, practical or easy to do
energy: power or ability to be physically or mentally active
enforcement: to make or force something to happen or be accepted
entities: things, real or abstract, which exist independently
equivalent: being equal to or effectively the same as
evolution: a gradual process of change, or Darwin's theory
expansion: an increase in size of something
exposure: being affected by something in a particular place
external: relating to or existing outside
facilitate: to make something easy or easier to do
fundamental: basic, central, or more important than anything else
generated: caused something to exist
generation: people of the same age, or the production of energy
image: a picture in the mind or formed by a mirror or lens
liberal: open minded and tolerant of others, or generous
license: a legal document giving permission to do or own
logic: a way of thinking based on reason
marginal: small in amount or effect, or barely acceptable
medical: relating to the study or practice of medicine
mental: of the mind
modified: changed just a little and usually for the better
monitoring: observing, recording or detecting using instruments
network: a system of things or people which are interconnected
notion: idea, opinion or belief
objective: aim or purpose
orientation: direction or arrangement, aims, training or preparation
perspective: a way of looking at or considering something
precise: exact or careful and accurate
prime: the main or most important, or the best quality
psychology: study of how the mind works and affects behavior
pursue: to follow, try to get, or try to discover information
ratio: a comparison of two things expressed as a number
rejected: refused to accept, make use of, or give affection to
revenue: income that a company or government receives
stability: resistance to change, or constancy of character
styles: types, expressions, or ways of doing something
substitution: the replacement of one thing by another
sustainable: able to be continued or maintained
symbolic: representing something else, or ineffective
target: aim, thing to be aimed at, or who something is for
transition: a process or period in which something changes
trend: fashion, or change in people's behavior or attitude
version: specific variety, different from others or the original
welfare: financial help to the poor, or health and happiness
whereas: but, compared with the fact that

Sublist 6: Most Common Academic Words 301–360

abstract: a written summary of the important points of a text
accurate: correct and without any mistakes
acknowledged: recognized, admitted the truth, or expressed thanks
aggregate: the total of all the parts
allocation: a share of something for a specific purpose
assigned: gave someone a task, or sorted something into groups
attached: added or fixed something to something else
author: writer
bond: a physical link, or a close social connection
brief: short in time, or expressed in a few words
capable: having the ability or qualities to do something
cited: quoted as an example to support an argument
cooperative: willing to help, or involving joint activity
discrimination: biased and unfair treatment of a person or group
display: show, or arrange something to be seen
diversity: variety of opinions, styles, social groups or living things
domain: an area of interest, or an area controlled by someone
edition: a version or a batch of a publication in a series
enhanced: improved in quality, intensity, or value
estate: all of a person's property or wealth
exceed: to be more than a number, amount or allowed limit
expert: a person with great skill or knowledge of a subject
explicit: clear and detailed, not implicit
federal: relating to a central government
fees: an amount of money paid for a piece of work or service
flexibility: ability to bend, change or be changed
furthermore: in addition
gender: condition of being male of female
ignored: gave no attention to someone or something
incentive: something that encourages or motivates a person to do
incidence: occurrence or rate of occurrence of something
incorporated: as a corporation, or combined into one thing
index: reference list arranged alphabetically, or scale
inhibition: the process of slowing down, restraining, or stopping
initiatives: introductory steps
input: contribution, or something that goes into a process
instructions: information about how to do something
intelligence: capacity to acquire and apply knowledge
interval: a short period of time between one event and the next
lecture: an educational speech before an audience or class
migration: movement of a group from one region to another
minimum: a lower limit of something
ministry: a government department, or the service of a minister
motivation: enthusiasm or reason for doing something
neutral: without bias or favoritism, or having no charge
nevertheless: despite this, nonetheless, notwithstanding
overseas: abroad, or to, from or in other countries
preceding: coming before something or someone else
presumption: an attitude based on probability rather than proof
rational: logical or based on reason
recovery: return to normal, or getting back something lost
revealed: showed or made known
scope: range covered, or opportunity
subsidiary: of lesser importance
tapes: recordings of sound or pictures
trace: to find or discover by careful searching or research
transformation: a complete change or the process of change
transport: to carry from one place to another
underlying: fundamental, implicit but not obvious, prior
utility: usefulness, or public service such as gas or water

Sublist 7: Most Common Academic Words 361–420

adaptation: modification to suit new conditions or environment
adults: people or living things that are fully grown or developed
advocate: to publicly recommend or support something
aid: to help or support
channel: a way through which something moves or is transmitted
chemical: a substance with a distinct molecular composition
classical: traditional, or belonging to ancient Rome or Greece
comprehensive: including many things or everything that is necessary
comprise: to include or consist of
confirmed: proved true, or made certain
contrary: not in agreement with, or opposite
converted: changed form, function or opinion
couple: to link together
decades: periods of ten years, or a long time
definite: certain or clear
deny: to refuse, not admit, or say that something is not true
differentiation: the process of making something different
disposal: the process of getting rid of something
dynamic: relating to energy, motion, or change
eliminate: to get rid of, remove, or leave out
empirical: based on observation or experiment
equipment: necessary items for a particular activity of purpose
extract: to get from source, pull out, or get by force
file: to store in order or record officially
finite: countable, or having an end or limit
foundation: fundamental principle, or establishment
global: relating to the whole world
grade: to classify things or people by quality, rank or level
guarantee: to promise or make certain
hierarchical: classified by rank or grade
identical: the same in every way
ideology: system of beliefs or principles
inferred: conclude from evidence or logical thinking
innovation: invention or new idea or way of doing something
insert: to put something into something else
intervention: become involved in a situation in order to improve it
isolated: separated, or found the cause of something
media: television, radio, newspapers or magazines
mode: manner, way or form
paradigm: conceptual framework, or an example of something
phenomenon: something unusual or amazing which can be sensed
priority: something important that comes first or before others
prohibited: prevented, or refused to allow
publication: printed item such as a book, magazine or journal
quotation: what someone has said or written
release: to let go or let out
reverse: opposite or back
simulation: model of the essential features of a process or thing
solely: only and exclusively
somewhat: slightly or rather
submitted: presented for consideration, or gave in to
successive: following in sequence and without a break
survive: to continue to live or exist
thesis: long academic paper based on original research
topic: subject of a text or discussion
transmission: process of passing or sending something invisible
ultimately: finally and after much trouble or discussion
unique: completely different from anything else
visible: able to be seen
voluntary: done willingly and without external force

Sublist 8: Most Common Academic Words 421–480

abandon: to leave forever, or to stop something in progress
accompanied: went or came with someone or something
accumulation: collection or process of collecting
ambiguous: not clear, or having two or more possible interpretations
appendix: supplementary material at the end of a book
appreciation: recognition of value, or expression of thanks
arbitrary: based on chance rather than reason
automatically: without need for help, or without thinking
bias: unfair preference, or distortion of statistics
chart: to watch carefully or record in detail
clarity: clearness of expression, thought, sound or image
conformity: agreement in form or opinion, or doing as others do
commodity: something that can be bought or sold
complement: to make better when combined
contemporary: existing now, or of the same period
contradiction: disagreement or incompatibility of two or more things
crucial: extremely important
currency: money or acceptance
denote: to indicate, or act as a symbol for
detected: noticed, or discovered using instruments
deviation: difference from the norm or what is usual or expected
displacement: movement of people or things away from a place
dramatic: exciting, outstanding, or very sudden
eventually: finally, or ultimately
exhibit: to show. display or reveal
exploitation: good use of resources, or unfair use of people
fluctuations: irregular variations, or rises and falls
guidelines: information to aid or advise people about something
highlighted: emphasized or marked as important
implicit: understood without being said
induced: caused to happen, or persuaded to do
inevitably: as expected, or in a way that can not be avoided
infrastructure: basic organization of a system, or public services
inspection: careful or critical viewing or examination
intensity: strength of concentration of something
manipulation: influence, or control of something using hands
minimized: reduced to a minimum, or made unimportant
nuclear: relating to a nucleus
offset: to counterbalance or compensate one thing for another
paragraph: group of sentences which discuss a single topic
plus: and also, or more, added to
practitioners: people involved in an activity or job requiring skill
predominantly: mainly or mostly
prospect: anticipation, or probability of a favorable outcome
radical: fundamental or extreme
random: without pattern or plan
reinforced: gave support to something
restore: to return to a previous condition or position
revision: a change of the words of a text
schedule: a plan of activities organized by time
tension: nervousness or uneasiness
termination: end of something, or process of ending something
theme: topic of speech or writing
thereby: as a result or this
uniform: always the same
vehicle: method, or any form of land transport
via: by way of, or by means of
virtually: almost or practically
widespread: existing or happening in many places
visual: relating to vision or sight

Sublist 9: Most Common Academic Words 481–541

accommodation: adjustment, agreement, or living place
analogous: similar or comparable in some ways
anticipated: expected something to happen
assurance: promise or confidence
attained: achieved or gained by effort
behalf: personal interest, benefit or representation
bulk: majority, or large size or weight of something
ceases: stops something or comes to an end
coherence: logical consistency, or integration of parts
coincide: to happen at the same time, or be similar
commenced: started
concurrent: happening at the same time
confined: limited or enclosed
controversy: disagreement or argument about an important topic
conversely: in the opposite way, on the other hand
device: scheme or thing invented for a specific purpose
devoted: gave time or effort to a purpose, activity or person
diminished: made smaller in size or importance
distortion: change of shape, or inaccurate description or reporting
duration: period of time that something lasts
erosion: gradual weakening or damage caused by nature
ethical: morally right
format: arrangement, layout or plan
founded: brought into existence, or based an idea on something
incompatible: unable to exist or work together effectively
inherent: existing as a natural and basic part of something
insights: discoveries or clear understandings of a complex issue
integral: necessary or important to complete a whole
intermediate: between two extremes or in the middle
manual: relating to, involving or done with hands
mature: completely grown or developed, or like an adult
mediation: negotiation between groups in conflict with each other
medium: means of transmitting, transporting, or communicating
military: relating to war or armed forces
minimal: very small, the smallest possible, or barely enough
mutual: felt or shared by each other or all
norms: accepted or usual standards or ways
overlap: correspond or coincide in part with something
passive: accepting without resistance, or not active
portion: part or share of a whole
preliminary: prior to or in preparation for the main activity or event
protocol: set of rules and procedures
qualitative: relating to quality
refine: improve something through small changes
relaxed: made rules or controls less severe
restraints: limitations or controls of the freedom of something
revolution: a sudden or important change in a situation
rigid: stiff and fixed, or not able to be changed or persuaded
route: way between places, or method of achieving something
scenario: imagined event, or model of expected outcomes
sphere: area of interest, knowledge or control
subordinate: of less importance or lower status
supplementary: extra, or supplying what is lacking
suspended: stopped something temporarily or permanently
team: organized group of people who work cooperatively
temporary: for a limited period
trigger: cause, or set off an action or series of actions
unified: brought together or combined as a whole
violation: action that breaks the rules
vision: sight, mental image, or ability to anticipate the future

Sublist 10: Most Common Academic Words 541–570

adjacent: next to, near, or touching
albeit: although, even though
assembly: a regular meeting of people, or putting parts together
collapse: fall down or fail suddenly
colleagues: people who work or study together at the same place
compiled: put together from various sources
conceived: gave birth, imagined, or invented
convinced: persuaded or lead someone to believe or do something
depression: unhappiness, or a period of little business activity
encountered: met unexpectedly, or experienced something undesired
enormous: very big
forthcoming: happening soon
inclination: slope, or the way a person feels about something
integrity: wholeness, honesty, or having principles
intrinsic: basic and essential, or by itself
invoked: used law or power to improve a situation
levy: to impose or collect a tax
likewise: similarly, also
nonetheless: despite this, nevertheless, notwithstanding
notwithstanding: despite this, nevertheless, nonetheless
odd: unusual, not even, or irregular
ongoing: in progress or happening now
panel: a small group of people chosen to give their opinions
persistent: continuing for a long time, or refusing to give up
posed: asked formally, caused a problem, or stayed in position
reluctant: unwilling or hesitant
so-called: commonly or falsely called
straightforward: easy to understand, or honest and frank
undergo: to experience of endure
whereby: by which or through which

Coxhead, A. (2000). "A new academic word list." TESOL Quarterly, 34(2), pp. 213–238.