Vocabulary affects every section of the TOEFL iBT. You need it to follow a reading passage, to catch a detail in a talk that plays only once, to spell a half-finished word correctly, and to explain your opinion in writing and speaking. This TOEFL vocabulary list gives you 100 words that are common in university textbooks, lectures and campus life, each with a plain-English meaning and an example sentence.
You can study the same 100 words as flip cards with the free TOEFL vocabulary flashcards. The tool tracks which words you know and lets you review only the ones you missed. No account is needed.
How Vocabulary Is Tested on the TOEFL iBT
There is no separate vocabulary section. Vocabulary is tested inside the other tasks, in the format the test has used since January 21, 2026.
| Section | Where vocabulary matters |
|---|---|
| Reading | Complete the Words: you type the missing second half of words in a short academic paragraph. There are 30 of these blanks, the largest single item type on the test, and each one needs correct spelling and the right word form. |
| Reading | Read an Academic Passage: some questions ask what a word or phrase means in the passage. |
| Listening | Talks and announcements play once. If an important word is unfamiliar, you cannot go back to it. |
| Writing | Write an Email and Write for an Academic Discussion reward precise word choice in the right register. |
| Speaking | Take an Interview gives no preparation time, so the words have to come to you quickly. |
Two points follow from this. First, recognising a word is not enough, because Complete the Words requires you to spell it. Second, you need words you can use, not only words you can understand. For the full task-by-task breakdown, see our guide to the TOEFL format.
ETS does not publish an official TOEFL word list, so no list can promise the exact words on your test. The words below were chosen because they are frequent in academic English generally, which is what the test is built on.
1. Academic Core Words
These words appear in academic texts on any subject. If you learn only one group, learn this one.
| Word | Part of speech | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| analyze | verb | to examine something in detail in order to understand it | Researchers analyzed water samples from twelve lakes. |
| approach | noun | a way of dealing with a problem or task | The team tried a new approach to teaching math. |
| assess | verb | to judge the quality, size or value of something | The exam assesses how well students can read academic texts. |
| assume | verb | to accept that something is true without proof | Early scientists assumed that the continents had never moved. |
| concept | noun | an idea or principle | The concept of supply and demand is central to economics. |
| consistent | adjective | always happening or behaving in the same way; in agreement with something | The results were consistent with the earlier study. |
| context | noun | the situation or surrounding text that helps explain something | You can often guess a word's meaning from its context. |
| derive | verb | to get or develop something from a source | Many English words are derived from Latin. |
| establish | verb | to set up something, or to show that something is true | The university was established in 1890. |
| evaluate | verb | to judge how good, useful or successful something is | The committee will evaluate each proposal next month. |
| evident | adjective | easy to see or understand; obvious | It was evident from the data that sales had fallen. |
| factor | noun | one of the things that influences a result | Cost is an important factor when students choose a university. |
| hypothesis | noun | an idea that explains something but has not yet been proved | The experiment was designed to test her hypothesis. |
| illustrate | verb | to make something clear by giving an example or picture | The professor used a map to illustrate her point. |
| imply | verb | to suggest something without saying it directly | The author implies that the policy failed. |
| indicate | verb | to show that something exists or is likely to be true | The survey indicates that most students prefer morning classes. |
| interpret | verb | to explain or decide what something means | Historians interpret the same event in different ways. |
| significant | adjective | large or important enough to have an effect | There was a significant increase in the number of applications. |
| subsequent | adjective | happening or coming after something else | Subsequent studies confirmed the original findings. |
| valid | adjective | based on good reasons or facts; officially acceptable | She raised a valid objection to the plan. |
2. Science and Nature Words
Biology, geology and environmental topics are common in academic passages and talks. You do not need subject knowledge, but these words let you follow the explanation.
| Word | Part of speech | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| abundant | adjective | existing in large amounts | Fish were once abundant in the river. |
| adapt | verb | to change in order to suit new conditions | Desert plants have adapted to survive with very little water. |
| climate | noun | the usual weather conditions of a place over a long period | The region has a warm, dry climate. |
| contaminate | verb | to make something dirty or harmful by adding a substance to it | Waste from the factory contaminated the groundwater. |
| drought | noun | a long period with little or no rain | The drought destroyed most of the wheat crop. |
| ecosystem | noun | all the living things in an area and the way they affect each other and their environment | Coral reefs are among the most diverse ecosystems on Earth. |
| emit | verb | to send out light, heat, gas or sound | Volcanoes emit large amounts of gas and ash. |
| erosion | noun | the gradual wearing away of soil or rock by water, wind or ice | Tree roots help protect the hillside from erosion. |
| evolve | verb | to develop gradually over a long time | Birds are thought to have evolved from small dinosaurs. |
| extinct | adjective | no longer existing as a living species | The dodo became extinct in the seventeenth century. |
| fossil | noun | the remains or mark of an ancient plant or animal preserved in rock | The fossil shows the outline of a prehistoric fish. |
| habitat | noun | the natural home of a plant or animal | Cutting down forests destroys the habitat of many birds. |
| migrate | verb | to move from one region to another, often with the seasons | Many birds migrate south before winter. |
| molecule | noun | the smallest unit of a substance, made of two or more atoms | A water molecule contains two hydrogen atoms and one oxygen atom. |
| nutrient | noun | a substance that living things need in order to live and grow | The flood left a layer of soil rich in nutrients. |
| organism | noun | a living thing, especially a very small one | Bacteria are single-celled organisms. |
| phenomenon | noun | something that is observed to exist or happen, especially something unusual | The northern lights are a natural phenomenon. |
| predator | noun | an animal that hunts and eats other animals | With no natural predators, the rabbit population grew quickly. |
| sediment | noun | sand, mud and small stones that settle at the bottom of water | Layers of sediment built up on the lake floor. |
| species | noun | a group of plants or animals of the same kind that can breed together | More than 300 species of birds live in the park. |
3. Society and History Words
History, economics and social science passages draw on this group.
| Word | Part of speech | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| agriculture | noun | the practice of farming | Agriculture allowed people to settle in one place. |
| civilization | noun | a society with its own developed culture and organization | The Maya civilization built large stone cities. |
| colony | noun | a territory that is controlled by another country | The island was a British colony until 1962. |
| conflict | noun | a serious disagreement or a period of fighting | The conflict between the two states lasted a decade. |
| decline | noun | a gradual decrease in number, quality or importance | The decline of the textile industry left many people without work. |
| democracy | noun | a system of government in which people vote for their leaders | Ancient Athens is often described as an early democracy. |
| economy | noun | the system by which a country produces and uses goods and money | Tourism is a major part of the local economy. |
| emerge | verb | to appear or become known | New trading cities emerged along the coast. |
| immigrant | noun | a person who comes to live in a different country | Many immigrants arrived to work in the factories. |
| inherit | verb | to receive money, property or a characteristic from someone who came before you | The eldest son inherited the family land. |
| labor | noun | work, especially physical work, or the people who do it | Building the railway required a great deal of labor. |
| legislation | noun | a law or a set of laws | New legislation limited working hours for children. |
| population | noun | all the people who live in a particular area | The city's population doubled in twenty years. |
| reform | noun | a change made to improve a system or law | Education reform was a priority for the new government. |
| revolution | noun | a sudden, great change, especially in government or in ways of working | The Industrial Revolution changed how goods were made. |
| rural | adjective | connected with the countryside rather than towns | Many young people left rural areas to find work. |
| settlement | noun | a place where people have come to live and build homes | Archaeologists found an ancient settlement near the river. |
| trade | noun | the activity of buying and selling goods | Trade between the two regions grew after the canal opened. |
| tradition | noun | a custom or belief that has been passed down over a long time | The festival is a tradition that goes back centuries. |
| urban | adjective | connected with a town or city | Urban areas usually have better public transport. |
4. Words for Arguments and Opinions
Use these in the Academic Discussion post and in interview answers, where you state a position and support it. For ready-made sentence frames, see our phrases for TOEFL Writing and Speaking.
| Word | Part of speech | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| acknowledge | verb | to accept or admit that something is true | I acknowledge that online classes are convenient, but they have limits. |
| advocate | verb | to publicly support an idea or plan | The professor advocates smaller class sizes. |
| alternative | noun | another choice or possibility | Cycling is a cheap alternative to driving. |
| benefit | noun | an advantage or helpful effect | One benefit of group work is that students learn from each other. |
| consequence | noun | a result of an action, often a bad one | Skipping classes can have serious consequences for your grades. |
| contrast | noun | a clear difference between two things | In contrast to her classmate, she prefers studying alone. |
| contribute | verb | to help cause something, or to give something to a shared effort | Regular exercise contributes to better concentration. |
| controversial | adjective | causing a lot of public disagreement | The decision to raise tuition was controversial. |
| crucial | adjective | extremely important | Sleep is crucial for memory. |
| drawback | noun | a disadvantage or problem | The main drawback of living off campus is the commute. |
| emphasize | verb | to give special importance to something | The speaker emphasized the need for more research. |
| enhance | verb | to improve the quality or value of something | Internships enhance a student's job prospects. |
| justify | verb | to give a good reason for something | It is hard to justify spending so much on a new stadium. |
| objective | adjective | based on facts rather than personal feelings | A good report gives an objective account of both sides. |
| oppose | verb | to disagree with something and try to stop it | Many residents oppose the new parking rules. |
| outcome | noun | the final result of a process or event | Both groups reached the same outcome by different methods. |
| perspective | noun | a particular way of thinking about something | Studying abroad gave him a new perspective on his own culture. |
| persuade | verb | to make someone agree to do or believe something by giving reasons | She persuaded the committee to extend the library hours. |
| priority | noun | something that is more important than other things and should be dealt with first | Student safety should be the university's top priority. |
| reasonable | adjective | fair and sensible | It seems reasonable to ask for a few more days. |
5. Campus and Daily Life Words
The test includes emails, notices, announcements and conversations about university life. These words are easy to overlook if you have only studied academic lists.
| Word | Part of speech | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| assignment | noun | a piece of work given to a student as part of a course | The history assignment is due on Friday. |
| available | adjective | able to be used, obtained or reached | The study rooms are available until 10 p.m. |
| deadline | noun | the latest time by which something must be finished | The deadline for applications is March 1. |
| dormitory | noun | a building where students live at a college or university | First-year students usually live in a dormitory. |
| enroll | verb | to officially join a course or school | You must enroll in the lab section as well as the lecture. |
| extension | noun | extra time allowed to finish something | I asked my professor for a two-day extension on the essay. |
| faculty | noun | the teaching staff of a university or department | Several faculty members attended the student conference. |
| inquiry | noun | a request for information | Thank you for your inquiry about the summer program. |
| lecture | noun | a talk given to a class, especially at a university | Today's lecture covers the causes of inflation. |
| mandatory | adjective | required by a rule or law | Attendance at the safety training is mandatory. |
| postpone | verb | to move an event to a later time or date | The field trip was postponed because of the storm. |
| prerequisite | noun | a course you must complete before you can take another one | Biology 101 is a prerequisite for this class. |
| register | verb | to put your name on an official list for a course or event | Students can register for spring classes starting Monday. |
| reimburse | verb | to pay back money that someone has spent | The department will reimburse you for the cost of the textbook. |
| schedule | noun | a plan that lists when things will happen | The exam schedule will be posted next week. |
| scholarship | noun | money given to a student to help pay for their studies | She won a scholarship that covers half of her fees. |
| semester | noun | one of the two main teaching periods in an academic year | He is taking five courses this semester. |
| syllabus | noun | a document that lists the topics, readings and rules for a course | The grading policy is explained in the syllabus. |
| transcript | noun | an official record of a student's courses and grades | The university asked for a copy of my transcript. |
| tuition | noun | the money paid for teaching at a school or university | Tuition is lower for students who live in the state. |
How to Study This TOEFL Vocabulary List
Learn one group at a time. Twenty words is a realistic amount for two or three days. Move on when you can give the meaning of every word in the group without looking.
Test yourself, do not reread. Cover the meaning and try to recall it. Reading a list feels productive but you remember far more when you force yourself to retrieve the answer. The flashcards are built for this: say the meaning, flip the card, then mark the word as known or still learning.
Review what you missed. Go back through the words you got wrong the same day, then again a day or two later. Words you got right need less attention.
Practise spelling. For each word, write it out from memory. Then try covering the second half of the word and completing it, which is what Complete the Words asks you to do.
Learn the word family. Complete the Words often depends on the right ending. If you know analyze, also learn analysis and analytical. If you know significant, also learn significance and significantly.
Use each word once. Write one sentence of your own with each new word, ideally about a topic you might be asked about. A word you have used yourself is much easier to recall in the interview.
Keep reading. A list is a starting point. Short articles on science, history and society will show you these words in context and add new ones.
Common Mistakes With TOEFL Vocabulary
| Mistake | What to do instead |
|---|---|
| Memorising rare, difficult words | Learn frequent academic words well. The test rewards clear, accurate English, not unusual words. |
| Learning meanings only | Learn spelling and word forms too, for Complete the Words. |
| Using a new word you are unsure of | In writing and speaking, a simple word used correctly is better than an advanced word used wrongly. |
| Studying once and moving on | Review the same words several times over a few weeks. |
| Ignoring campus vocabulary | Words like prerequisite, transcript and reimburse appear in everyday texts and conversations on the test. |
Frequently Asked Questions
How many words do I need to know for the TOEFL?
There is no official number, and ETS does not publish a word list. A practical target is to know the common academic words well and to be comfortable with everyday campus vocabulary. The 100 words here are a foundation, not the whole job.
Is vocabulary a separate section on the TOEFL iBT?
No. Vocabulary is tested through tasks in Reading, Listening, Writing and Speaking. The most direct test is Complete the Words in the Reading section.
Are flashcards a good way to learn TOEFL vocabulary?
Yes, if you use them to test yourself and you review the cards you get wrong. Flashcards are good for meaning and recall. Add spelling practice and your own example sentences to cover what the test asks for.
How long does it take to learn these 100 words?
At 20 words every two to three days with regular review, about two weeks. If your test is further away, fit this into a wider TOEFL preparation plan.
Study these words with the free TOEFL vocabulary flashcards: flip each card, mark what you know, and review the words you are still learning.