There arent any workbooks of college vocabulary words, and thats a shame. As a college student, you may come to think of a specific project or test grade as the zenith of your academic experience. 499 Words Every College Student Should Know: A Professor's Handbook on Words Essential to Great Writing & Better Grades Kindle Edition by Stephen Spignesi (Author) Format: Kindle Edition 60 ratings 4.1 on Goodreads 13 ratings See all formats and editions Kindle $11.99 Read with Our Free App Paperback $16.99 10 Used from $6.25 2 If you see some words repeated in these lists, dont forget that many When appealing to the common people, its a wise move to use their vernacular instead of fancy language. Used in a sentence: Checking Facebook to see pictures of her ex-boyfriend go on vacation with his new girlfriend gave her melancholy thoughts. Make every word count. 39. ethereal extremely light and delicate that seems heavenly. extremely light and delicate that seems heavenly. Nuance is a term that is not to be missed when it comes to college vocabulary words. Some popular synonyms for meticulous include: Meticulous comes from the Latin word metus, meaning fear or dread. When youre meticulous about doing something, youre often fearful of making a mistake. 51 Sophisticated College Words Every Student Should Know #2: aesthetic. This compensation does not influence our school rankings, resource guides, or other editorially-independent information published on this site. obsessing over little details and rules. 59. myriad an extremely large, uncountable number of things. Used in a sentence: Anyone who sees the celebritys mansion that overlooks the ocean will have an aesthetic appreciation for the home. The term brevity is one of the easiest college words to learn and use because of its similarity to the common word brief. You can think of brevity as the state of being brief. Used in a sentence: The government of Papua New Guinea agreed to pay for the student to study overseas if he signed an indenture document to come back to work for the government for two years. During the 1920s and early 1930s, the US government placed a prohibition on the sale of alcoholic beverages. an opening statement that prepares whats to come. Used in a sentence: Parents with a new-born baby face the onerous task of taking care of a helpless human life while they get almost zero sleep during the process. While celebrities may act like they hate the public attention, celebrities and the media have a symbiotic relationship with one another. For example, bringing a corsage to your date for the prom is appropriate, but a dozen roses may be superfluous. Used in a sentence: To get his kids bigger, the parent adulterated their chocolate smoothie by mixing in protein the kids didnt know about until tasting. The word means showing or suggesting that success in the future is likely, and it comes from the Latin term auspex, meaning bird seer. In ancient times, clairvoyants used to birdwatch in order to detect patterns that could affect future events. Used in a sentence: The political attack ads use heavy doses of pejorative language to sway voters minds. Merriam-Webster defines banal as boring or ordinary; lacking originality or freshness. For example, no matter how banal your professors lectures, its still advisable to pay attention if you want to pass your classes. The term is derived from the Latin word tenuis, meaning fine-drawn, thin, narrow, slight. The modern definition of the word isnt far from its original meaning. Many employees would make a diatribe against their boss if there was no risk of getting fired because of it. Websharp, biting, or acid in temper, expression, or tone Acrimony bitter, harsh, or biting sharpness Acumen quickness of perception or discernment (understanding) Adumbrate to sketch, outline in a shadowy way Ameliorate to make or grow better Aphorism a tensely phrased statement of a truth or opinion; an adage Apocryphal Used in a sentence: Many political refugees seek asylum when they believe they will be killed in their native country if theyre forced to return. Take it from us. Read reviews from worlds largest community for readers. If I was clairvoyant about future sporting events, you better believe I would go to Vegas and make millions off of sports bets. 93. symbiotic relationships between people thatare mutually beneficial, or dependent, to each other. This definition makes ostracize a perfect addition to our list of words every college student should know since this concept often comes up in university classes like history, political science, and sociology, for example. Alabama, Ohio State, and Notre Dame. The 300 most common words in English. 66. patrician someone related to a noble or wealthy family. Used in a sentence: Stores will offer amazing discount deals to their customers, only to include a major caveat when they check out that makes the offer less of a home run. What is condoned in a fraternity house, wouldnt be condoned in a church. The mob is notorious for having people obfuscate the truth with their backdoor deals and money laundering. Though not originally used to describe things that happen by luck or good fortune, the word has come to be associated with the kind of serendipity associated with positive results. Used in a sentence: Its odd when there are two twins, and one is shy and the other is loquacious. The term qualitative isnt the hardest or most sophisticated vocabulary words on this list but will prove useful in your college classes, especially those involving scholarly research. the language spoken by people of a certain region or group. Read reviews from worlds largest community for readers. Disparate things are distinctly dissimilar. The March Madness bracket pool champion usually responds in a supercilious manner, not recognizing that a lot of luck carried them to victory. 31. discern to perceive or recognize something. Although shes funny, Mrs. Hess would digress too often during class that she always fell behind what she wanted to cover in class. Like many of the vocabulary words were featuring, tenuous has its roots in Latin. Many of the important college words weve featured have interesting etymological roots, and auspicious is another one of these captivating terms. Used in a sentence: The informant lied to the FBI so the government had to rescind his immunity. relationships between people thatare mutually beneficial, or dependent, to each other. If you go to a Rhodes Scholars meeting, youre going to find a bunch of erudite students in different subjects. Little boys like to emulate their fathers words and actions, which is why its crucial that the father is a good role model. 1. The singers ethereal voice carried the note so beautifully that I couldnt believe it. Despite its meaning, our editors have taken a firm stance on the fact that vacillate belongs on our list of vocabulary words every college student should know. Used in a sentence: Where they previously had to sketch terrains and locations by hand, cartographers have utilized computer software to create stunning maps. Weve collected the most common English words below, split into the major word classes ( verbs, nouns, adjectives, and adverbs) and four more word classes (prepositions, pronouns, conjunctions, and contractions). European soccer team Hull City were relegated from the Premier League in 2015. Used in a sentence: European soccer team Hull City were relegated from the Premier League in 2015. Coming from the Latin word for distinguished, the term egregious makes our list of interesting words that every student should know because of its sophistication and great utility. Lets face itsome words just sound more sophisticated than others. Normally a stoic, Malachi wept in emotion after hearing the bad news about his hometown. The list contains 850 words that account for 80 percent of the words children use in their writing the ones they need to be able to spell correctly. According to Merriam-Webster, the definition of the word vacillate is to waver in mind, will, or feeling; hesitate in choice of opinions or courses. Synonyms include: To illustrate, think of vacillate as a word you might use to describe a classmate who cant commit to a regular time for study group meetings, despite insisting that everyone attend. Theres a bad apple in every bunch, or so they say. Used in a sentence: The March Madness bracket pool champion usually responds in a supercilious manner, not recognizing that a lot of luck carried them to victory. Like a number of the college words on our list, hackneyed has a negative connotation and is often used in a critical sense. When youre looking for sympathy, find an amicable friend who will help you relax. ranking of people or things in order of importance. To make sure the Mona Lisa stays as pristine as possible, the famous art is protected inside a sealed enclosure, with thick glass, and a temperature controlled climate. Used in a sentence: I cancelled the service because of my consultants laconic instructions that didnt give me the clarity I needed. WebThis list was created to help teachers know which spelling words should be taught to kids in grades 15. A 500-word essay is a common format assignment that students have to deal with. I cancelled the service because of my consultants laconic instructions that didnt give me the clarity I needed. Another word you should add to your list of vocabulary words is the term banal. People without a filter for their words often get in trouble for their crude jokes and expressions. Youd be remiss not to add fortuitous to your list of key vocabulary words to learn. WebThis list was created to help teachers know which spelling words should be taught to kids in grades 15. Still, its primary usage is in the adjective form. WebWords Every College Student Should Know book. Used in a sentence: What is condoned in a fraternity house, wouldnt be condoned in a church. Visit Custom Writings essay writing agency. Think again. When a husband or wife makes a unilateral decision, unhappiness and distrust results from the other side because of the lack of communication and compromise. Using easy-to-understand, informative, and often humorous explanations of every word, 499 Words Every College Student Should Know explores how to 51 Sophisticated College Words Every Student Should Know #2: aesthetic. aesthetic (adjective): of or relating to art or beauty; alternatively, pleasing in appearance or attractive, aesthetic (noun): a particular theory or conception of beauty or art; alternatively, a pleasing appearance or effect. Many political refugees seek asylum when they believe they will be killed in their native country if theyre forced to return. Master high-frequency, high-utility words that you'll encounter across the curriculum. 48. iconoclast someone who attacks cherished beliefs or institutions. Here are some tips for writing short essays. 25. decorum behavior that is well-mannered. ranking of people or things in order of importance. Synonyms include: As an illustration of the words meaning, consider a professor who reprimands a student for his intermittent absences from class. Though its literal meaning is related to an interstellar cloud, the meaning of the word nebulous that were including on our list of college words you should know is much more practical. 79. quintessential a perfect, model example of a specific quality. Whether or not thats a positive or negative thing is up to you to decide since its a matter of personal preference. The origins of this college vocabulary are unknown, which is ironic when you consider its definition. The term superfluous is an adjective that is synonymous with extra. According to Merriam-Webster, the formal definition of the word is beyond what is needed; unnecessary. According to this definition, something that is superfluous goes well above what is sufficient for the situation at hand. Though it shouldnt be confused with the spice, gingerly is one of those college words that can add variety and substance to your vocabulary. This type of essay is a common article design that can be followed for composing any sort of exposition, for example, a descriptive essay, an argumentative essay, and so forth. According to Merriam-Webster, this word refers to a subtle distinction or variation, with synonyms spanning terms like: This is a word that proves quite useful in introductory humanities courses since youll be asked to analyze works of art and literature with a fine-toothed comb, looking for nuances that separate them from comparable pieces. The best way to write an essay in this format is by using specific words and making your ideas flow well. 19. clairvoyant seeing events in the future. 50. indolent wanting to avoid activity or work. An etymological analysis of the word rapport will uncover links to the more common English term report. Like many college words, though, the term rapport means something quite different today, however. Merriam-Webster defines rapport as a friendly, harmonious relationship, especially one characterized by agreement, mutual understanding, or empathy that makes communication possible or easy. Some close synonyms for rapport include: Though a rapport with your college professors may or may not result in an extension for your mid-term assignment, it certainly cant hurt. Another word you should add to your list of vocabulary words is the term banal. elements from a diverse range of sources. A traumatic experience of losing a loved one or going to jail can create an existential crisis of where one questions why theyre on earth. Used in a sentence: You can handle a disingenuous salesman, but you dont want anything to do with a disingenuous doctor. Not only does this method make it easy to keep the material organized, but its also a convenient way to A list of college-level words wouldnt be complete without the addition of pedantic. Youll find all rebels on the road less travelled and the conformists in the crowd. Used in a sentence: Youll find all rebels on the road less travelled and the conformists in the crowd. It would be kind of ridiculous to do a vocab workbook in a college course. 101. zealot someone who is uncompromising and fanatical about an ideal. Not only does this method make it easy to keep the material organized, but its also a convenient way to