The MCAT places a significant emphasis on your knowledge of English vocabulary. MCAT especially demands a large amount of reading and comprehension.
Aceing the MCAT depends on your ability to understand general scientific terminology and fundamental graduate-level vocabularies.
Needless to say, having a wide range of vocabulary is crucial as you prepare and study for the MCAT.
This article focuses on an MCAT vocabulary list that will certainly be beneficial during your MCAT preparation. Let’s get started.
Is Vocabulary Important for the MCAT?
There is no ‘vocabulary’ test on the MCAT.
However, there are passages with concepts, and the vocabulary is in the context of passages or essays. Therefore, the MCAT, like any other test, requires you to have a strong grasp of vocabulary.
Comprehending the passages and the questions on the MCAT will be difficult if your vocabulary skills are weak. This could greatly affect your MCAT score.
Furthermore, you will not be able to impress the admission committee if you use average and common vocabulary in your personal essays and statements.
Hence, having an excellent vocabulary is key to succeeding in every aspect of the MCAT.
When Does Vocabulary Show Up on the MCAT?
The MCAT, being an English test, is, at the same time, a vocabulary test.
Vocabulary is crucial in all four sections of the MCAT:You will only be able to answer the questions correctly if you understand the questions and the options with which you are given.
It is quite noting, however, that your vocabulary skills will be primarily tested in the MCAT's Critical Analysis and Reasoning Skills (CARS) section.
An excerpt from the AAMC about the CARS part is provided below:
“The passages on the MCAT CARS are typically 500 to 600 words long, but they are complex, frequently thought-provoking works of literature with strong vocabulary and, occasionally, intricate writing styles.”
Do not be intimidated by the word "complex.”
Even if you do not understand a word at first, you may always determine its meaning by using context clues.
Is There an Official Vocabulary List I Should Be Studying for the MCAT?
There isn't an official MCAT vocabulary list to learn from, but you should make it a habit to read every day. This also applies to reading books or articles you find interesting.
For example, you are free to read a short novel about a kid wizard or an autobiography of a basketball coach.
Instead of just memorizing a dictionary definition, you will come across unfamiliar terms and see them utilized in sentences.
Try to infer the word’s meaning from the author's tone and the other words in the phrase before you look it up. This will help you become a strong, active reader and help you focus on the minute elements that the MCAT will ask you to identify!
How helpful it is to learn Greek and Latin roots, prefixes, and suffixes, especially in the sciences, cannot be overstated.
Consider phrases like "hepatitis" or "intravenous." If you are familiar with your roots, you can understand the meaning of these phrases without ever having seen them.
“Hepatitis,” for instance, is an inflammation of the liver; “hepato” means liver, and “itis” means inflammation.
An intravenous injection is one that goes into your veins because “intra” means inside and “venous” means vein.
Study the Latin prefixes, Latin suffixes, Greek prefixes, Greek suffixes, and Greek base words on the following list.
How to Improve Your Vocabulary for the MCAT
Increasing your vocabulary before the MCAT can occasionally be challenging.
Some applicants choose to forego this important element entirely in favor of the science portions after seeing a massive pile of vocabulary to learn, which is not the way to go.
Thankfully, there are ways on how you can improve your MCAT vocabulary. Here are some of them.
MCAT Vocabulary List
The fact that vocabulary plays a crucial role in acing the MCAT cannot be stated. Work on your vocabulary when you start preparing and studying for the MCAT.
For your reference, we have compiled an MCAT vocabulary list that should help you prepare for one of the most challenging exams you would have to take.Word | Word Type | Definition |
|---|---|---|
a priori | adjective | Using general concepts to reason |
abdicate | verb | To quit or relinquish, especially in a formal way, a throne, right, power, claim, or obligation |
abeyance | noun | A brief halt or slowdown in action |
abortive | adjective | Incomplete and failed as a result |
abrogate | verb | To finish something formally, especially a statute or other kind of legal agreement |
absorption | noun | A procedure used to introduce chemicals into or through tissues |
abstemious | adjective | Consumption of alcohol or food should come in moderation. |
accrue | verb | To assemble over a protracted length of time |
acrophobia | noun | A severe or unusual aversion to heights |
acuity | noun | Sharpness or acuteness, particularly of the mind, vision, or sense |
acumen | noun | The capacity to reason clearly, form wise conclusions, and act quickly in a given situation, such as in business or politics |
adumbrate | verb | To drop hints or make a general statement regarding what will happen in the future |
alchemy | noun | A sort of chemistry from the Middle Ages that concentrated on two main goals: creating an elixir that would keep people youthful forever and turning common metals into gold |
altruistic | adjective | Genuinely interested in or committed to the well-being of others |
amalgamate | verb | To combine, unify, merge, or combine to create one item |
ambivalence | noun | The quality of having conflicting emotions about someone or something at the same time |
amorphous | adjective | Lacking a defined framework |
analgesic | adjective | A painkiller that is administered without making the patient pass out |
anathema | noun | A person or thing that is detested intensely |
archetype | noun | An ideal illustration or prototype of something |
atrophy | noun | A shrinking or loss in size brought on by illness, trauma, or inactivity |
attenuate | verb | To reduce something's power, impact, density, quantity, or size |
barrage | noun | A focused artillery bombardment to block the advance of enemy forces or to protect one's troops who are approaching or withdrawing |
befuddle | verb | To utterly perplex a person |
benign | adjective | Not damaging |
bigot | noun | A person who doesn't tolerate opposing viewpoints |
blandishment | noun | A nice or pleasing remark, word, or action used to appease, cajole, or gently induce someone to do something |
blighted | adjective | Afflicted with an illness |
broach | verb | To begin a tough or otherwise awkward conversation |
buoyant | adjective | Has the capacity to float |
burgeon | verb | To expand, accelerate, or increase in size |
cacophonous | adjective | Characterized by or generating a loud, harsh, and unpleasant combination of sounds |
calumny | noun | An untrue statement that is frequently made with the intention of harming someone's reputation |
capacious | adjective | Able to comfortably hold a considerable amount |
capitulate | verb | To give up and make no more effort, typically because they are more powerful |
capricious | adjective | Impetuous and unpredictable |
catalyst | noun | A material that speeds up a chemical reaction |
catharsis | noun | The process of letting go of intense emotions or tensions, particularly via art |
caustic | adjective | Chemically active and capable of scorching, corroding, destroying, or eating away |
celerity | noun | Rapidity or quickness |
certitude | noun | A sense of self-assurance |
chromosome | noun | A gene-carrying DNA strand that resembles a thread |
coalesce | verb | o form a single body, group, or mass by combining or merging |
comatose | adjective | In a deep and typically extended state of unconsciousness |
commiserate | verb | To feel or communicate pity or compassion |
concise | adjective | Precise and clear |
concomitant | adjective | Something that is related to another thing and frequently happens concurrently |
congenital | adjective | Present since birth |
connoisseur | noun | A specialist on a particular topic, such as food or art |
contusion | noun | A wound that does not cause skin damage |
debase | verb | To diminish in worth or quality |
decorum | noun | The customs or standards of proper conduct |
defoliate | verb | To remove a plant or tree's leaves, typically for agricultural or defensive purposes |
defunct | adjective | Not present anymore |
deleterious | adjective | Hazardous or detrimental |
deride | verb | To make fun of; mock; write about (someone or something) in a way that conveys that they are foolish, trivial, or useless |
deterrent | adjective | Something that tends to discourage |
detrimental | adjective | Inflicting harm or damage |
diffuse | verb | To spill out and let the fluid spread out freely |
diminutive | adjective | Exceptionally short or extraordinarily little in size; significantly smaller than usual or average |
efface | verb | To cause to vanish by wiping or rubbing out |
efficacy | noun | The capacity or aptitude to bring about a desired outcome or effect |
emollient | adjective | Possessing the property of being less painful, especially to the skin |
embody | verb | To convey the idea that you represent or are representing |
endemic | noun | Incredibly typical, prevalent, or exclusive to a specific area, population, or group of individuals |
enhance | verb | To amplify, raise, or improve something's strength, extent, or quality, as in its price, worth, appeal, or efficiency |
ephemeral | adjective | Lasting for a very little period |
esoteric | adjective | Comprehended exclusively by a chosen few or a tiny group |
evanescent | adjective | Quickly vanishing or fading from sight, memory, or existence; existing for only a brief period |
extraneous | adjective | Not essential to perform something |
feasible | adjective | Able to be performed or completed |
fluctuate | verb | To sway back and forth; to rise and fall; to undulate |
gargantuan | adjective | Extremely huge in size or quantity; enormous in scope, magnitude, or degree; massive, enormous, gigantic |
germinal | adjective | In a state of development; embryological |
gustatory | noun | Regards the perception of taste |
hierarchy | noun | A method of ranking individuals or things according to their status |
hinder | verb | To obstruct or impede progress |
homogeneous | adjective | The same or comparable kind or nature |
hubris | noun | Extreme confidence or pride that offends others; arrogance brought on by excessive confidence or passion |
hypochondriac | adjective | A person who constantly makes assumptions about their own health and thinks they are ill when they are not at all |
ideology | noun | A group of beliefs that shape or rule an individual or society |
idiosyncrasy | noun | A peculiar or extraordinary behavior pattern, quality, or trait that distinguishes a person from the majority of others |
illicit | adjective | Not allowed by law, custom, rule, etc.; unlawful |
impinge | verb | To have an adverse impact on something, frequently restricting it |
inherent | adjective | Being as a fundamental and indivisible feature, characteristic, right, or trait in someone or something |
jargon | noun | Specialized language or expressions that are difficult to understand |
lachrymose | noun | A propensity for constantly or easily crying |
limpid | adjective | Easily understandable; calm and worry-free |
malleable | adjective | (Of metal or other material) able to be hammered, pounded, or pushed into different shapes without breaking or cracking |
marginal | adjective | Very small |
motley | noun | A mixed-race group; polychromatic |
myriad | noun | An enormous number, frequently one that cannot be counted |
nascent | adjective | Arising or starting to exist; Just began or formed |
nuclear | adjective | Using or utilizing nuclear energy or weapons; connected to an atom's nucleus |
opaque | adjective | Not allowing light to penetrate through |
orthodox | adjective | Holding beliefs that are conventional or outdated |
paradigm | noun | Something that is used as a model or as an example |
parameter | noun | A limit to a certain action or procedure |
philistine | noun | A crude person who lacks culture and does not appreciate or comprehend the art |
placebo | noun | A benign chemical that has no discernible impact on the user |
plethora | noun | An abundance of (anything), especially more than you need, want or can handle |
pliable | adjective | Simple to sculpt into different shapes |
predominant | adjective | Most effective, eminent or supreme |
prolific | adjective | A vast amount of something being produced |
quirk | noun | A strange behavioral pattern in one's personal life |
recapitulate | verb | To more succinctly rephrase or summarize something |
rectitude | noun | Moral uprightness |
reprobate | noun | A non-principled individual |
sacrosanct | noun | Something that is regarded as holy |
sanction | noun | A formal endorsement of a move or action |
sporadic | adjective | Occurs infrequently; not continuously or routinely; without a pattern |
static | adjective | Not acting or acting in a way that is particularly undesired or boring |
therapeutic | adjective | Possessing healing abilities; having a beneficial impact on the body or mind |
turgid | adjective | Enlarged or swollen |
unalloyed | adjective | Pure; unmixed |
urbane | adjective | (Of a person, especially a male) polite, considerate, and self-assured in a refined manner |
vertigo | noun | A loss of equilibrium or faintness that is frequently brought on by being high up |
vicissitude | noun | The ups and downs of life; the changes that take place over one's lifetime, frequently making things worse |
virulent | adjective | Extremely contagious (of a pathogen, especially a virus) |
zealot | noun | A passionate believer who is unyielding in the pursuit of their beliefs, aspirations, or other goals |
Additional FAQs – MCAT Vocabulary List
Does Spelling Matter in Your Responses?
However, try to make your responses are free of spelling errors.
Like enhancing your vocabulary, improving your spelling while preparing for the MCAT is a sure way to ensure you get a great MCAT score.
Is Vocabulary Tested Only in the CARS Section?
It may be essential in the CARS section, but that does not mean you can ace the other three sections with a weak vocabulary.
To help you achieve your goal MCAT score, we take turns hosting these 
