WordPrevalence

Word familiarity list

Academic words

School, research, and analytical vocabulary checked for reader familiarity.

Words in list36
Known range8.8%-99.7%
Average known72.7%
Dominant labelCommon
aberrationCommon
Known by
92.1%

a state or condition markedly different from the norm

abeyanceRare
Known by
56.2%

temporary cessation or suspension

abreactionVery rare
Known by
19.9%

(psychoanalysis) purging of emotional tensions

adiposityVery rare
Known by
45.7%

having the property of containing fat

adulationUncommon
Known by
87.9%

servile flattery; exaggerated and hypocritical praise

adversaryCommon
Known by
98.9%

someone who offers opposition

affinityCommon
Known by
98%

(immunology) the attraction between an antigen and an antibody

alacrityUncommon
Known by
75.1%

liveliness and eagerness

altruismCommon
Known by
93.6%

the quality of unselfish concern for the welfare of others

ambiguityCommon
Known by
99%

an expression whose meaning cannot be determined from its context

ambivalenceCommon
Known by
96.8%

mixed feelings or emotions

amortizationRare
Known by
68.2%

the reduction of the value of an asset by prorating its cost over a period of years

anachronismUncommon
Known by
89.3%

something located at a time when it could not have existed or occurred

analysisCommon
Known by
99.3%

an investigation of the component parts of a whole and their relations in making up the whole

anthologyCommon
Known by
99.2%

a collection of selected literary passages

apperceptionVery rare
Known by
33.4%

the process whereby perceived qualities of an object are related to past experience

approximationCommon
Known by
99.7%

an approximate calculation of quantity or degree or worth

arbitraryCommon
Known by
98.4%

based on or subject to individual discretion or preference or sometimes impulse or caprice

assumptionCommon
Known by
99.4%

a statement that is assumed to be true and from which a conclusion can be drawn

atavismVery rare
Known by
47.9%

a reappearance of an earlier characteristic

auscultationVery rare
Known by
22.5%

listening to sounds within the body (usually with a stethoscope)

birefringenceVery rare
Known by
8.8%

splitting a ray into two parallel rays polarized perpendicularly

botherationVery rare
Known by
36.4%

the psychological state of being irritated or annoyed

brevityCommon
Known by
92.8%

the use of brief expressions

cabalismRare
Known by
53.8%

the doctrines of the Kabbalah

canalizationRare
Known by
61.6%

the production of a canal or a conversion to canals

capacitanceRare
Known by
50.4%

an electrical phenomenon whereby an electric charge is stored

catharsisCommon
Known by
90.2%

(psychoanalysis) purging of emotional tensions

causalityCommon
Known by
94.8%

the relation between causes and effects

chrismVery rare
Known by
32.7%

a consecrated ointment consisting of a mixture of oil and balsam

cognitionCommon
Known by
98.4%

the psychological result of perception and learning and reasoning

coherenceCommon
Known by
98%

the state of cohering or sticking together

compunctionUncommon
Known by
77.3%

a feeling of deep regret (usually for some misdeed)

concatenationVery rare
Known by
49.9%

the state of being linked together as in a chain; union in a linked series

confabulationRare
Known by
72.2%

an informal conversation

conflagrationUncommon
Known by
80%

a very intense and uncontrolled fire