Writing — academic vocabulary from our Discussion samples

acquisitionnoun

The buying or obtaining of assets or objects; a company takeover

advocacynoun

Public support for or recommendation of a particular cause or policy

aestheticadjective

Concerned with beauty or the appreciation of beauty

algorithmnoun

A process or set of rules to be followed in calculations or problem-solving

allegorynoun

A story, poem, or picture that can be interpreted to reveal a hidden meaning

allocateverb

To distribute resources or duties for a particular purpose

ambiguousadjective

Open to more than one interpretation; not having one obvious meaning

analyzeverb

To examine something in detail in order to understand it or draw conclusions

anthropogenicadjective

Originating in human activity

assimilateverb

To absorb and integrate people, ideas, or culture into a wider society

autonomousadjective

Having the freedom to act independently; self-governing

autonomynoun

The right or condition of self-government; freedom from external control

bandwidthnoun

The maximum rate of data transfer across a given path

biodiversitynoun

The variety of plant and animal life in a particular habitat

bureaucracynoun

A system of government where most decisions are made by officials rather than elected representatives

catalystnoun

A substance that increases the rate of a chemical reaction; something that causes an important event

chronicadjective

Persisting for a long time or constantly recurring

cohesionnoun

The action or fact of forming a united whole

commoditynoun

A raw material or primary agricultural product that can be bought and sold

comprehensiveadjective

Including all or nearly all elements or aspects of something

congenitaladjective

Present from birth, especially relating to a disease or physical abnormality

consensusnoun

A general agreement among a group of people

conservationnoun

Prevention of wasteful use of a resource; preservation of natural environments

contemporaryadjective

Living or occurring at the same time; belonging to the present time

corroborateverb

To confirm or give support to a statement, theory, or finding

deforestationnoun

The action of clearing a wide area of trees

degradationnoun

The condition or process of degrading or being degraded; deterioration

demographicadjective

Relating to the structure of populations

depictverb

To show or represent by a drawing, painting, or other art form

depreciationnoun

A reduction in the value of an asset over time

diagnosisnoun

The identification of the nature of an illness or other problem

disparitynoun

A great difference between things

diversifyverb

To make or become more varied or diverse

ecosystemnoun

A biological community of interacting organisms and their physical environment

egalitarianadjective

Relating to or believing in the principle that all people are equal

eloquentadjective

Fluent or persuasive in speaking or writing

emissionsnoun

The production and discharge of something, especially gas or radiation

empiricaladjective

Based on observation or experience rather than theory or pure logic

encryptionnoun

The process of converting information into code to prevent unauthorized access

entrepreneurnoun

A person who organizes and operates a business, taking on financial risk

epidemicnoun

A widespread occurrence of an infectious disease in a community

equilibriumnoun

A state in which opposing forces or influences are balanced

erosionnoun

The gradual destruction or diminution of something

evocativeadjective

Bringing strong images, memories, or feelings to mind

fiscaladjective

Relating to government revenue, especially taxes

fundamentaladjective

Forming a necessary base or core; of central importance

hypothesisnoun

A proposed explanation made on the basis of limited evidence as a starting point for investigation

ideologynoun

A system of ideas and ideals forming the basis of economic or political theory

immunizationnoun

The action of making a person immune to infection

implicationnoun

A conclusion that can be drawn from something although it is not explicitly stated

indigenousadjective

Originating or occurring naturally in a particular place; native

infrastructurenoun

The basic physical and organizational structures needed for society to operate

innovativeadjective

Featuring new methods; advanced and original

interoperabilitynoun

The ability of different systems to work together

leverageverb

To use something to maximum advantage

lucrativeadjective

Producing a great deal of profit

marginalizeverb

To treat a person or group as insignificant or peripheral

methodologynoun

A system of methods used in a particular area of study or activity

mitigateverb

To make less severe, serious, or painful

monopolynoun

The exclusive possession or control of the supply of a commodity or service

mutationnoun

A change in the structure of a gene resulting in a variant form

narrativenoun

A spoken or written account of connected events; a story

nuancenoun

A subtle difference in or shade of meaning, expression, or sound

obsoleteadjective

No longer produced or used; out of date

optimizeverb

To make the best or most effective use of a situation or resource

outsourceverb

To obtain goods or services from an outside supplier

paradigmnoun

A typical example or pattern of something; a model

pathogennoun

A bacterium, virus, or other microorganism that can cause disease

phenomenonnoun

A fact or situation observed to exist or happen, especially one whose cause is in question

photosynthesisnoun

The process by which green plants use sunlight to synthesize foods from carbon dioxide and water

pollutantnoun

A substance that pollutes something, especially water or the atmosphere

pragmaticadjective

Dealing with things sensibly and realistically rather than ideologically

prevalencenoun

The fact or condition of being prevalent; commonness

prevalentadjective

Widespread in a particular area or at a particular time

prognosisnoun

The likely course of a disease or ailment; a forecast

proliferateverb

To increase rapidly in numbers; multiply

proliferationnoun

Rapid increase in numbers or spread

prototypenoun

A first or preliminary model of something from which other forms are developed

rehabilitationnoun

The action of restoring someone to health through training and therapy

renewableadjective

Capable of being replaced by natural processes; not depleted when used

replenishverb

To fill something up again; to restore to a former level or condition

rhetoricnoun

The art of effective or persuasive speaking or writing

satiricaladjective

Using humor, irony, or exaggeration to expose and criticize

scalableadjective

Able to be changed in size or scale; capable of growing

sedentaryadjective

Tending to spend much time seated; somewhat inactive

sequestrationnoun

The process of storing carbon dioxide to prevent it from entering the atmosphere

specimennoun

An individual animal, plant, or piece of a mineral used as an example for study

stratificationnoun

The arrangement of something into groups or layers

subsequentadjective

Coming after something in time; following

subsidizeverb

To support an organization or activity financially

sustainableadjective

Able to be maintained without depleting resources

symbiosisnoun

Interaction between two organisms living in close association, typically to the advantage of both

symbolismnoun

The use of symbols to represent ideas or qualities

symptomaticadjective

Showing symptoms of a particular disease or condition

synthesizeverb

To combine different ideas, influences, or things to make a whole

terrestrialadjective

Of, on, or relating to the earth; living on land rather than in water

therapeuticadjective

Relating to the healing of disease; having a good effect on the body or mind

ubiquitousadjective

Present, appearing, or found everywhere

vernacularnoun

The language or dialect spoken by the ordinary people in a particular region

volatileadjective

Liable to change rapidly and unpredictably; easily evaporated at normal temperatures

learnverb

gain knowledge or skill through study or experience

onlineadjective

connected to or available through the internet

timenoun

a period during which something happens or continues

worknoun

activity involving effort to achieve a purpose

personnoun

a single human being

provideverb

give something needed or useful to someone

wantverb

have a desire to possess or do something

traditionaladjective

following customs or beliefs passed down over generations

newadjective

recently made, created, or discovered

inferverb

reach a conclusion based on evidence and reasoning

thinkverb

use one's mind to form ideas or judgments

leaveverb

go away from a place or person

longadjective

having great length or duration

effectiveadjective

producing the intended result successfully

changeverb

make or become different in some way

studyverb

devote time and attention to gaining knowledge on a subject

classroomnoun

a room in a school where lessons take place

offerverb

present something for someone to accept or refuse

weeknoun

a period of seven consecutive days

helpverb

give assistance or support to someone