English Vocabulary · SAT Preparation Live Review Preview
SAT Vocabulary Words
The current digital SAT Reading and Writing section uses short passages from literature, history and social studies, the humanities, and science. Its Craft and Structure questions ask students to determine the meaning of high-utility words in context and to choose the most logical and precise word or phrase. Vocabulary also supports evidence, inference, rhetorical synthesis, transitions, and clear Standard English expression across the section.
This independently authored 800-word beta curriculum is arranged in twenty-three pages of up to thirty-five words. Pages containing words 1–500 include five cloze questions drawn only from that enhanced range; words 501–800 remain fully visible and editable while the expanded practice layer is developed. Each row includes a passage-field label and an editable word-study note about a transparent affix, compound structure, capitalization, or dictionary base form. The list is an unofficial KSSR learning resource and is not endorsed by or affiliated with College Board. SAT is a registered trademark of College Board.
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| # | Word | Details | Meaning | Sample sentence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 526 | penitent | adjective StudyField: SAT literature, history, and humanities Word study: Base-form focus: penitent is the dictionary headword; compare its inflected or derived forms in context. | 1. reumütig 2. reuig 3. bußfertig | The penitent official returned the money and resigned. |
| 527 | penurious | adjective StudyField: SAT literature, history, and humanities Word study: Suffix focus: -ous commonly forms an adjective meaning full of or characterized by. | dürftig, karg, knapp, schütter, spärlich, mager | The penurious patron refused to fund basic safety repairs. |
| 528 | perennial | adjective StudyField: SAT literature, history, and humanities Word study: Base-form focus: perennial is the dictionary headword; compare its inflected or derived forms in context. | ganzjährig | Water access remains a perennial concern in the region. |
| 529 | perfidious | adjective StudyField: SAT literature, history, and humanities Word study: Suffix focus: -ous commonly forms an adjective meaning full of or characterized by. | perfide | The allies condemned the secret agreement as perfidious. |
| 530 | peripatetic | adjective StudyField: SAT literature, history, and humanities Word study: Base-form focus: peripatetic is the dictionary headword; compare its inflected or derived forms in context. | umherziehend | The peripatetic lecturer spoke at universities on three continents. |
| 531 | pernicious | adjective StudyField: SAT literature, history, and humanities Word study: Suffix focus: -ous commonly forms an adjective meaning full of or characterized by. | 1. schädlich 2. bösartig 3. verderblich | The report documents the pernicious effects of housing discrimination. |
| 532 | perpetuate | verb StudyField: SAT literature, history, and humanities Word study: Base-form focus: perpetuate is the dictionary headword; compare its inflected or derived forms in context. | 1. verewigen 2. perpetuieren | Biased data can perpetuate unfair decisions. |
| 533 | pertinent | adjective StudyField: SAT literature, history, and humanities Word study: Base-form focus: pertinent is the dictionary headword; compare its inflected or derived forms in context. | 1. relevant 2. bedeutend 3. in diesem Zusammenhang Bedeutung habend | The judge allowed only pertinent testimony. |
| 534 | pervasive | adjective StudyField: SAT literature, history, and humanities Word study: Suffix focus: -ive commonly forms an adjective meaning having a quality or tendency. | durchdringend | A pervasive odor indicated contamination throughout the building. |
| 535 | petulant | adjective StudyField: SAT literature, history, and humanities Word study: Base-form focus: petulant is the dictionary headword; compare its inflected or derived forms in context. | 1. bockig 2. borstig 3. gereizt | The minister's petulant response intensified the criticism. |
| 536 | philanthropy | noun StudyField: SAT literature, history, and humanities Word study: Base-form focus: philanthropy is the dictionary headword; compare its inflected or derived forms in context. | 1. Menschenliebe 2. Nächstenliebe 3. Philantropie | Her philanthropy supported clinics and public libraries. |
| 537 | philistine | noun StudyField: SAT literature, history, and humanities Word study: Base-form focus: philistine is the dictionary headword; compare its inflected or derived forms in context. | 1. philiströs 2. Banause 3. Spießer- | The critic unfairly called every popular reader a philistine. |
| 538 | piety | noun StudyField: SAT literature, history, and humanities Word study: Base-form focus: piety is the dictionary headword; compare its inflected or derived forms in context. | Frömmigkeit | The portrait presents the queen as a model of piety. |
| 539 | placate | verb StudyField: SAT literature, history, and humanities Word study: Base-form focus: placate is the dictionary headword; compare its inflected or derived forms in context. | 1. besänftigen 2. begütigen 3. beruhigen | Officials offered refunds to placate frustrated travelers. |
| 540 | plasticity | noun StudyField: SAT literature, history, and humanities Word study: Suffix focus: -ity commonly forms a noun naming a quality, state, or condition. | 1. Plastizität 2. Formbarkeit 3. Verformbarkeit | Brain plasticity allows learning to alter neural pathways. |
| 541 | platitude | noun StudyField: SAT literature, history, and humanities Word study: Base-form focus: platitude is the dictionary headword; compare its inflected or derived forms in context. | 1. Plattitüde 2. Floskel 3. Gemeinplatz | The speech offered a platitude instead of a concrete policy. |
| 542 | plethora | noun StudyField: SAT literature, history, and humanities Word study: Base-form focus: plethora is the dictionary headword; compare its inflected or derived forms in context. | 1. Fülle 2. Übermaß | The archive contains a plethora of letters but few financial records. |
| 543 | poignant | adjective StudyField: SAT literature, history, and humanities Word study: Base-form focus: poignant is the dictionary headword; compare its inflected or derived forms in context. | 1. ergreifend 2. packend 3. eindringlich | The empty shoes form a poignant memorial. |
| 544 | polemical | adjective StudyField: SAT literature, history, and humanities Word study: Base-form focus: polemical is the dictionary headword; compare its inflected or derived forms in context. | polemisch | The author's polemical tone leaves little room for uncertainty. |
| 545 | pragmatism | noun StudyField: SAT literature, history, and humanities Word study: Suffix focus: -ism often names a belief, system, movement, or practice. | Pragmatismus | Fiscal pressure encouraged pragmatism over ideological purity. |
| 546 | precipitous | adjective StudyField: SAT literature, history, and humanities Word study: Suffix focus: -ous commonly forms an adjective meaning full of or characterized by. | 1. abrupt 2. abschüssig 3. jäh | The company experienced a precipitous decline in sales. |
| 547 | predilection | noun StudyField: SAT literature, history, and humanities Word study: Suffix focus: -tion commonly forms a noun naming an action, process, or result. | 1. Vorliebe 2. Faible 3. Neigung | The editor's predilection for short essays shaped the journal. |
| 548 | presumptuous | adjective StudyField: SAT literature, history, and humanities Word study: Suffix focus: -ous commonly forms an adjective meaning full of or characterized by. | 1. überheblich 2. anmaßend 3. spekulierend | It was presumptuous to announce the decision before the board voted. |
| 549 | prevaricate | verb StudyField: SAT literature, history, and humanities Word study: Base-form focus: prevaricate is the dictionary headword; compare its inflected or derived forms in context. | 1. Ausflüchte machen 2. ausweichen | The witness began to prevaricate when asked about the missing funds. |
| 550 | prodigal | adjective StudyField: SAT literature, history, and humanities Word study: Base-form focus: prodigal is the dictionary headword; compare its inflected or derived forms in context. | verschwenderisch | The prodigal heir exhausted the estate within a decade. |
| 551 | prodigious | adjective StudyField: SAT literature, history, and humanities Word study: Suffix focus: -ous commonly forms an adjective meaning full of or characterized by. | 1. gewaltig 2. ungeheuer | The scholar possessed a prodigious memory for dates. |
| 552 | profligate | adjective StudyField: SAT literature, history, and humanities Word study: Base-form focus: profligate is the dictionary headword; compare its inflected or derived forms in context. | verschwenderisch | Profligate spending left the administration deeply in debt. |
| 553 | proliferate | verb StudyField: SAT literature, history, and humanities Word study: Base-form focus: proliferate is the dictionary headword; compare its inflected or derived forms in context. | 1. sich ausbreiten 2. sich vermehren | Unverified reports began to proliferate online. |
| 554 | propensity | noun StudyField: SAT literature, history, and humanities Word study: Suffix focus: -ity commonly forms a noun naming a quality, state, or condition. | 1. Neigung 2. Tendenz | The material has a propensity to crack in extreme cold. |
| 555 | propitious | adjective StudyField: SAT literature, history, and humanities Word study: Suffix focus: -ous commonly forms an adjective meaning full of or characterized by. | 1. günstig 2. förderlich 3. gnädig | Calm weather made the morning propitious for launch. |
| 556 | proponent | noun StudyField: SAT literature, history, and humanities Word study: Base-form focus: proponent is the dictionary headword; compare its inflected or derived forms in context. | 1. Befürworter 2. Fürsprecher | A leading proponent of the reform addressed the committee. |
| 557 | propriety | noun StudyField: SAT literature, history, and humanities Word study: Base-form focus: propriety is the dictionary headword; compare its inflected or derived forms in context. | 1. Angemessenheit 2. Richtigkeit 3. Korrektheit | The inquiry questioned the propriety of accepting expensive gifts. |
| 558 | prosaic | adjective StudyField: SAT literature, history, and humanities Word study: Base-form focus: prosaic is the dictionary headword; compare its inflected or derived forms in context. | prosaisch | The mystery ends with a prosaic explanation. |
| 559 | proscribe | verb StudyField: SAT literature, history, and humanities Word study: Base-form focus: proscribe is the dictionary headword; compare its inflected or derived forms in context. | verbieten | The treaty will proscribe the use of certain weapons. |
| 560 | proselytize | verb StudyField: SAT literature, history, and humanities Word study: Suffix focus: -ize commonly forms a verb meaning to make, become, or apply. | 1. bekehren 2. überzeugen 3. (als) (Anhänger) gewinnen | The organization may inform visitors but cannot proselytize in the school. |
Vocabulary reading and practice
The Peripatetic Teacher
Reading practice for pages 16–18. Five relevant words are highlighted.
English reading
A peripatetic teacher travels between remote villages with a box of books. A penurious official repeatedly refuses to fund fuel, while a perfidious supplier secretly raises prices after signing a contract. When records expose the scheme, the supplier appears penitent. The teacher’s perennial commitment to students never changes.
German translation
Ein umherreisender Lehrer reist mit einer Kiste voller Bücher zwischen abgelegenen Dörfern hin und her. Ein geiziger Beamter weigert sich wiederholt, Treibstoff zu finanzieren, während ein hinterhältiger Lieferant nach Vertragsabschluss heimlich die Preise erhöht. Als Unterlagen den Plan aufdecken, wirkt der Lieferant reumütig. Das beständige Engagement des Lehrers für seine Schülerinnen und Schüler ändert sich nie.
Reading comprehension
1. Why is the teacher peripatetic?
The teacher travels between villages.
2. What makes the supplier perfidious?
The supplier secretly violates the agreement.
3. What commitment is perennial?
The teacher's commitment to students is perennial.
Vocabulary quiz
Choose the dictionary equivalent for each of 5 selected words.
Vocabulary chart page
This page focuses on the word chart. Reading passages appear once in each three-page group, while cloze quizzes remain in the established enhanced range for this level.
About the digital SAT
The digital SAT Reading and Writing section measures comprehension, analysis, synthesis, rhetoric, and command of language. Its Words in Context questions ask students to determine a word’s meaning or choose the most logical and precise word for a particular passage. That means SAT vocabulary study should focus on useful academic words, multiple meanings, tone, and exact usage—not on memorizing rare words in isolation.
Use this list as one part of SAT preparation. Read each example closely, compare near-synonyms, and notice how surrounding sentences control meaning. The lesson readings and questions are designed to practise the same habits of contextual reasoning, while official College Board questions remain the best guide to the test’s exact format.
Sources and curriculum references
These references guide selection and calibration. Definitions, sample sentences, readings, questions, and teaching notes are independently written and reviewed.
- College Board: The SAT Reading and Writing Section
- College Board: Student Question Bank — Reading and Writing
- College Board: Digital SAT Suite Assessment Framework
- WikDict downloadable bilingual dictionaries
- Kaikki.org / Wiktextract machine-readable Wiktionary data
- Language-Learning-decks public flashcard datasets
- SBBIC English-to-Khmer Dictionary
- English–Khmer Dictionary Dataset (machine-generated Khmer fallback; human review required)
- PanLex meanings snapshot (direct CC0 gap candidates; human review required)
- Cambridge bilingual dictionaries (individual editorial sense checks)
- Collins English–Hindi Dictionary (individual editorial checks)
- Hindwi and Rekhta dictionaries (individual Hindi/Urdu checks)
- National Institute of Korean Language: Basic Korean Dictionary
- JMdict/EDRDG Japanese dictionary project
- CC-CEDICT Chinese dictionary project
- VDict Vietnamese Dictionary (individual editorial check)
- Google Translate (machine-assisted lesson-reading draft; fluent review required)
- Kuperman et al.: Age-of-acquisition ratings for 30,000 English words