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Academic Word List (AWL) P1

The Academic Word List (AWL) was developed by Averil Coxhead at the School of Linguistics and Applied Language Studies at Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand. The list contains 570 word families which were selected because they appear with great frequency in a broad range of academic texts. The list does not include words that are in the most frequent 2000 words of English (the General Service List), thus making it specific to academic contexts. The AWL was primarily made so that it could be used by teachers as part of a programme preparing learners for tertiary level study or used by students working alone to learn the words most needed to study at colleges and universities.
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Full list of words from this list:

  1. sector
    a particular aspect of life or activity
  2. available
    obtainable or accessible and ready for use or service
  3. financial
    involving fiscal matters
  4. process
    a particular course of action intended to achieve a result
  5. individual
    being or characteristic of a single thing or person
  6. specific
    stated explicitly or in detail
  7. principle
    a basic generalization that is accepted as true
  8. estimate
    judge tentatively
  9. variable
    something that is likely to change
  10. method
    a way of doing something, especially a systematic way
  11. data
    a collection of facts from which conclusions may be drawn
  12. research
    a seeking for knowledge
  13. contract
    a binding agreement that is enforceable by law
  14. environment
    the totality of surrounding conditions
  15. export
    sell or transfer abroad
  16. source
    the place where something begins
  17. assessment
    the act of judging a person or situation or event
  18. policy
    a plan of action adopted by an individual or social group
  19. identified
    having the identity known or established
  20. create
    bring into existence
  21. derived
    formed or developed from something else; not original
  22. factor
    anything that contributes causally to a result
  23. procedure
    a particular course of action intended to achieve a result
  24. definition
    a brief explanation of the meaning of a word or phrase
  25. assume
    take to be the case or to be true
  26. theory
    a belief that can guide behavior
  27. benefit
    something that aids or promotes well-being
  28. evidence
    knowledge on which to base belief
  29. established
    brought about or set up or accepted
  30. authority
    the power or right to give orders or make decisions
  31. major
    greater in scope or effect
  32. issue
    some situation or event that is thought about
  33. labour
    productive work (especially physical work done for wages)
  34. occur
    come to pass
  35. economic
    of or relating to production and management of wealth
  36. involved
    connected by participation or association or use
  37. percent
    a proportion in relation to a whole
  38. interpretation
    the act of expressing something in an artistic performance
  39. consistent
    the same throughout in structure or composition
  40. income
    the amount of money one makes over a period of time
  41. structure
    a complex entity made of many parts
  42. legal
    established by or founded upon law or official rules
  43. concept
    an abstract or general idea inferred from specific instances
  44. formula
    a group of symbols that make a mathematical statement
  45. section
    one of several parts or pieces that fit with others
  46. required
    necessary by rule
  47. constitutional
    existing as an essential characteristic
  48. analysis
    abstract separation of something into its various parts
  49. distribution
    the act of spreading or apportioning
  50. function
    what something is used for
  51. area
    the extent of a two-dimensional surface within a boundary
  52. approach
    move towards
  53. role
    the actions and activities assigned to a person or group
  54. legislation
    the act of making or enacting laws
  55. indicate
    designate a place, direction, person, or thing
  56. response
    the speech act of continuing a conversational exchange
  57. period
    an amount of time
  58. context
    the set of facts or circumstances that surround a situation
  59. significant
    rich in implication
  60. similar
    having the same or nearly the same characteristics
  61. community
    a group of people living in a particular local area
  62. resident
    someone who lives at a particular place for a long period
  63. range
    a variety of different things or activities
  64. construction
    the act of building something
  65. strategy
    an elaborate and systematic plan of action
  66. elements
    violent or severe weather
  67. previous
    just preceding something else in time or order
  68. conclusion
    a position or opinion reached after consideration
  69. security
    the state of being free from danger or injury
  70. aspect
    a characteristic to be considered
  71. acquisition
    something gained
  72. feature
    a prominent attribute or aspect of something
  73. text
    the words of something written
  74. commission
    the act of granting authority to undertake certain functions
  75. regulation
    the act of bringing to uniformity
  76. computer
    a machine for performing calculations automatically
  77. item
    a distinct part that can be specified separately in a group
  78. consumer
    a person who uses goods or services
  79. achieve
    gain with effort
  80. final
    an exam administered at the end of an academic term
  81. positive
    characterized by or displaying affirmation or acceptance
  82. evaluation
    the act of ascertaining or judging the quality of
  83. assistance
    the activity of contributing to the fulfillment of a need
  84. normal
    being approximately average or within certain limits
  85. relevant
    having a bearing on or connection with the subject at issue
  86. distinction
    a discrimination between things as different
  87. region
    the extended spatial location of something
  88. traditional
    consisting of or derived from a practice of long standing
  89. impact
    the striking of one body against another
  90. consequence
    a phenomenon that is caused by some previous phenomenon
  91. chapter
    a subdivision of a written work; usually numbered and titled
  92. equation
    a mathematical statement that two expressions are the same
  93. appropriate
    suitable for a particular person, place, or situation
  94. resource
    aid or support that may be drawn upon when needed
  95. participation
    the act of sharing in the activities of a group
  96. survey
    determining opinions by interviewing people
  97. potential
    existing in possibility
  98. cultural
    relating to the shared knowledge and values of a society
  99. transfer
    move from one place to another
  100. select
    pick out or choose from a number of alternatives
  101. credit
    an estimate of ability to fulfill financial commitments
  102. affect
    have an influence upon
  103. category
    a general concept that marks divisions or coordinations
  104. perceived
    detected by instinct or inference
  105. sought
    that is looked for
  106. focus
    the concentration of attention or energy on something
  107. purchase
    acquire by means of a financial transaction
  108. injury
    physical damage to the body caused by violence or accident
  109. site
    the piece of land on which something is located
  110. journal
    a daily written record of experiences and observations
  111. primary
    of first rank or importance or value
  112. complex
    complicated in structure
  113. institute
    set up or lay the groundwork for
  114. investment
    laying out money or capital in an enterprise
  115. administration
    the act of governing or exercising authority
  116. maintenance
    activity involved in keeping something in good working order
  117. design
    the act of working out the form of something
  118. obtain
    come into possession of
  119. restricted
    subject to an act of limitation
  120. conduct
    the way a person behaves toward other people
  121. comment
    a statement that expresses a personal opinion
  122. convention
    the act of meeting formally
  123. published
    prepared and printed for distribution and sale
  124. framework
    the underlying structure
  125. implicit
    suggested though not directly expressed
  126. negative
    characterized by denial or opposition or resistance
  127. dominant
    most frequent or common
  128. illustrate
    depict with a visual representation
  129. outcome
    something that results
  130. constant
    uninterrupted in time and indefinitely long continuing
  131. shift
    move very slightly
  132. deduction
    the act of removing a part from the whole
  133. ensure
    make certain of
  134. specified
    clearly and explicitly stated
  135. justification
    the act of defending or explaining by reasoning
  136. funds
    assets in the form of money
  137. reliance
    the state of depending on something
  138. physical
    involving the body as distinguished from the mind or spirit
  139. partnership
    a cooperative relationship between people or groups
  140. location
    the act of putting something in a certain place
  141. link
    connect, fasten, or put together two or more pieces
  142. coordination
    regulation of diverse elements into a harmonious operation
  143. alternative
    one of a number of things from which only one can be chosen
  144. initial
    occurring at the beginning
  145. validity
    the quality of being legitimate and rigorous
  146. task
    any piece of work that is undertaken or attempted
  147. technique
    a practical method or art applied to some particular task
  148. exclude
    prevent from entering; shut out
  149. consent
    give an affirmative reply to; respond favorably to
  150. proportion
    relation with respect to comparative quantity or magnitude
  151. demonstrate
    give an exhibition of to an interested audience
  152. reaction
    an idea evoked by some experience
  153. criterion
    the ideal in terms of which something can be judged
  154. minority
    being or relating to the smaller in number of two parts
  155. technology
    the practical application of science to commerce or industry
  156. philosophy
    the rational investigation of existence and knowledge
  157. removed
    separate or apart in time, space, or character
  158. sex
    one of two categories into which most organisms are divided
  159. compensation
    the act of making amends for service, loss, or injury
  160. sequence
    a following of one thing after another in time
  161. corresponding
    similar especially in position or purpose
  162. maximum
    the greatest or most complete or best possible
  163. circumstances
    one's overall condition in life
  164. instance
    an item of information that is typical of a class or group
  165. considerable
    large in number, amount, extent, or degree
  166. sufficient
    of a quantity that can fulfill a need or requirement
  167. corporate
    of or belonging to a business firm
  168. interaction
    mutual or reciprocal dealings or influence
  169. contribution
    a voluntary gift made to some worthwhile cause
  170. immigration
    movement of people into a country or area
  171. component
    one of the individual parts making up a larger entity
  172. constraint
    the state of being physically limited
  173. technical
    of or relating to aptitude in a practical skill
  174. emphasis
    intensity or forcefulness of expression
  175. scheme
    an elaborate and systematic plan of action
  176. layer
    a single thickness of some substance or material
  177. volume
    the property of something that is great in magnitude
  178. document
    a representation of a person's thinking with symbolic marks
  179. registered
    listed or recorded officially
  180. core
    the center of an object
  181. overall
    involving only main features
  182. emerge
    come out into view, as from concealment
  183. regime
    the governing authority of a political unit
  184. implementation
    the act of providing a means for accomplishing something
  185. project
    a planned undertaking
  186. hence
    from that fact or reason or as a result
  187. occupational
    relating to an activity or job for which you are trained
  188. internal
    located inward
  189. goal
    the state of affairs that a plan is intended to achieve
  190. retained
    continued in your keeping or use or memory
  191. sum
    a quantity obtained by the addition of a group of numbers
  192. integration
    the act of combining into a whole
  193. mechanism
    device consisting of a piece of machinery
  194. parallel
    being everywhere equidistant and not intersecting
  195. imposed
    set forth authoritatively as obligatory
  196. despite
    contemptuous disregard
  197. job
    a specific piece of work required to be done as a duty
  198. parameter
    a constant in the equation of a curve that can be varied
  199. approximate
    not quite exact or correct
  200. label
    a brief description given for purposes of identification
  201. concentration
    the spatial property of being crowded together
  202. principal
    main or most important
  203. series
    similar things placed in order or one after another
  204. predict
    make a guess about what will happen in the future
  205. summary
    a brief statement that presents the main points
  206. attitude
    a complex mental state involving beliefs and feelings
  207. undertake
    enter upon an activity or enterprise
  208. cycle
    a periodically repeated sequence of events
  209. communication
    the activity of conveying information
  210. ethnic
    distinctive of the ways of living of a group of people
  211. hypothesis
    a tentative insight that is not yet verified or tested
  212. professional
    of or relating to or suitable as an occupation
  213. status
    the condition or someone or something at a particular time
  214. conference
    a prearranged meeting for consultation or discussion
  215. attribute
    a quality belonging to or characteristic of an entity
  216. annual
    occurring every year
  217. obvious
    easily perceived by the senses or grasped by the mind
  218. error
    a wrong action attributable to bad judgment or ignorance
  219. implication
    something that is inferred
  220. apparent
    clearly revealed to the mind or the senses or judgment
  221. commitment
    the act of binding yourself to a course of action
  222. subsequent
    following in time or order
  223. debate
    a discussion with reasons for and against some proposal
  224. dimension
    a construct distinguishing objects or individuals
  225. promote
    assign to a higher position
  226. statistics
    a branch of mathematics concerned with quantitative data
  227. option
    one of a number of things from which only one can be chosen
  228. domestic
    of or relating to the home
  229. output
    production of a certain amount
  230. access
    the right to enter
  231. code
    a set of rules or principles or laws
  232. investigation
    an inquiry into unfamiliar or questionable activities
  233. phase
    any distinct time period in a sequence of events
  234. prior
    earlier in time
  235. granted
    acknowledged as a supposition
  236. stress
    special emphasis attached to something
  237. civil
    of or occurring between or among citizens of the state
  238. contrast
    the opposition or dissimilarity of things that are compared
  239. resolution
    a decision to do something or to behave in a certain manner
  240. adequate
    having the requisite qualities or resources to meet a task
  241. intelligence
    the ability to comprehend
  242. transformation
    the act of changing in form or shape or appearance
  243. presumption
    a premise that is taken for granted
  244. acknowledged
    recognized or made known or admitted
  245. utility
    the quality of being of practical use
  246. furthermore
    in addition
  247. accurate
    characterized by perfect conformity to fact or truth
  248. diversity
    noticeable variety
  249. attached
    being joined in close association
  250. recovery
    return to an original state
  251. assigned
    appointed to a post or duty
  252. tape
    a long thin piece of cloth or paper as used for binding or fastening
  253. motivation
    psychological feature arousing action toward a desired goal
  254. bond
    a connection that fastens things together
  255. edition
    the form in which a text is published
  256. nevertheless
    despite anything to the contrary
  257. transport
    move something or somebody around
  258. cite
    make reference to
  259. fee
    a fixed charge for a privilege or for professional services
  260. scope
    the state of the environment in which a situation exists
  261. enhanced
    increased or intensified in value or beauty or quality
  262. incorporated
    formed or united into a whole
  263. instructions
    a manual explaining how to install or operate a device
  264. subsidiary
    functioning in a supporting capacity
  265. input
    signal going into an electronic system
  266. abstract
    existing only in the mind
  267. ministry
    the work of a person authorized to conduct religious worship
  268. capable
    having ability
  269. expert
    a person with special knowledge who performs skillfully
  270. preceding
    existing or coming before
  271. display
    something intended to communicate a particular impression
  272. incentive
    a positive motivational influence
  273. inhibition
    the action of forbidding
  274. trace
    an indication that something has been present
  275. ignored
    disregarded
  276. incidence
    the relative frequency of occurrence of something
  277. estate
    extensive landed property retained by the owner
  278. cooperative
    involving the joint activity of two or more
  279. reveal
    make visible
  280. index
    alphabetical listing of names and topics with page numbers
  281. lecture
    a speech that is open to the public
  282. discrimination
    unfair treatment of a person or group based on prejudice
  283. overseas
    beyond or across the ocean
  284. explicit
    precisely and clearly expressed or readily observable
  285. aggregate
    a sum total of many heterogeneous things taken together
  286. gender
    properties that distinguish organisms on the basis of sex
  287. underlying
    in the nature of something though not readily apparent
  288. brief
    of short duration or distance
  289. domain
    a particular environment or walk of life
  290. rational
    consistent with or based on or using reason
  291. minimum
    the smallest possible quantity
  292. interval
    the distance between things
  293. neutral
    having no personal preference
  294. migration
    the movement of persons from one locality to another
  295. flexibility
    the property of being easily bent or shaped
  296. federal
    of a government with central and regional authorities
  297. author
    a person who writes professionally
  298. initiative
    readiness to embark on bold new ventures
  299. allocation
    the act of distributing or apportioning according to a plan
  300. exceed
    be or do something to a greater degree
  301. intervention
    the act of putting something between two things
  302. confirmed
    having been established or made firm or received the rite of confirmation
  303. definite
    precise; explicit and clearly defined
  304. classical
    of the most highly developed stage of an early civilization
  305. chemical
    produced by reactions involving atomic or molecular changes
  306. voluntary
    of your own free will or design
  307. release
    grant freedom to; free from confinement
  308. visible
    capable of being seen or open to easy view
  309. finite
    bounded in magnitude or spatial or temporal extent
  310. publication
    the act of issuing printed materials
  311. channel
    a deep and relatively narrow body of water
  312. file
    record in a public office or in a court of law
  313. thesis
    an unproved statement advanced as a premise in an argument
  314. equipment
    an instrumentality needed for an undertaking
  315. disposal
    the act or means of getting rid of something
  316. solely
    without any others being included or involved
  317. deny
    declare untrue; contradict
  318. identical
    being the exact same one
  319. submit
    yield to the control of another
  320. grade
    a position on a scale of intensity or amount or quality
  321. phenomenon
    any state or process known through the senses
  322. paradigm
    a standard or typical example
  323. ultimately
    as the end result of a succession or process
  324. extract
    remove, usually with some force or effort
  325. survive
    continue in existence after
  326. converted
    spiritually reborn
  327. transmission
    communication by means of sent signals
  328. global
    involving the entire earth
  329. infer
    conclude by reasoning
  330. guarantee
    an unconditional commitment that something will happen
  331. advocate
    a person who pleads for a person, cause, or idea
  332. dynamic
    characterized by action or forcefulness of personality
  333. simulation
    the act of imitating the behavior of some situation
  334. topic
    the subject matter of a conversation or discussion
  335. insert
    introduce
  336. reverse
    change to the contrary
  337. decade
    a period of 10 years
  338. comprise
    be made of
  339. hierarchical
    classified by various criteria into successive levels
  340. unique
    the single one of its kind
  341. comprehensive
    including all or everything
  342. couple
    two items of the same kind
  343. mode
    how something is done or how it happens
  344. differentiation
    a discrimination between things as distinct
  345. eliminate
    end, take out, or do away with
  346. priority
    status established in order of importance or urgency
  347. empirical
    derived from experiment and observation rather than theory
  348. ideology
    an orientation that characterizes the thinking of a group
  349. somewhat
    to a small degree or extent
  350. aid
    the activity of contributing to the fulfillment of a need
  351. foundation
    the basis on which something is grounded
  352. adult
    a fully developed person from maturity onward
  353. adaptation
    the process of adjusting or conforming to new conditions
  354. quotation
    a passage or expression that is cited
  355. contrary
    exact opposition
  356. mediate
    act between parties with a view to reconciling differences
  357. successive
    following in order without gaps
  358. innovation
    the act of starting something for the first time
  359. prohibited
    forbidden by law
  360. isolated
    remote and separate physically or socially
  361. highlight
    an area of brightness in a picture
  362. eventually
    after an unspecified period of time or a long delay
  363. inspection
    a formal or official examination
  364. termination
    the act of ending something
  365. displacement
    the act of moving something from its natural environment
  366. arbitrary
    based on or subject to individual discretion or preference
  367. reinforced
    given added strength or support
  368. denote
    have as a meaning
  369. offset
    a compensating equivalent
  370. exploitation
    an act that victimizes someone
  371. detected
    perceived or discerned
  372. abandon
    forsake; leave behind
  373. random
    lacking any definite plan or order or purpose
  374. revision
    the act of altering
  375. virtually
    in essence or in effect but not in fact
  376. uniform
    clothing of distinctive design worn by members of a group
  377. predominantly
    much greater in number or influence
  378. thereby
    by that means or because of that
  379. implicit
    suggested though not directly expressed
  380. tension
    the action of stretching something tight
  381. ambiguous
    having more than one possible meaning
  382. vehicle
    a conveyance that transports people or objects
  383. clarity
    the quality of being coherent and easily understood
  384. conformity
    correspondence in form, type, or appearance
  385. contemporary
    occurring in the same period of time
  386. automatically
    in a mechanical manner; by a mechanism
  387. accumulation
    a gain or increase in something over time
  388. appendix
    a small sac attached to the large intestines of some animals
  389. widespread
    widely circulated or diffused
  390. infrastructure
    the basic features of a system or organization
  391. deviation
    a variation from the standard or norm
  392. fluctuation
    an instance of change
  393. restore
    bring back into original existence, function, or position
  394. guideline
    a rule that provides direction for appropriate behavior
  395. commodity
    any good that can be bought and sold
  396. minimise
    make small or insignificant
  397. practitioner
    someone who carries out a learned profession
  398. radical
    far beyond the norm
  399. plus
    on the positive side or higher end of a scale
  400. visual
    relating to or using sight
  401. chart
    a visual display of data or information
  402. appreciation
    understanding of the nature or meaning of something
  403. prospect
    the possibility of future success
  404. dramatic
    characteristic of a stage performance
  405. contradiction
    opposition between two conflicting forces or ideas
  406. currency
    the metal or paper medium of exchange that is presently used
  407. inevitably
    in such a manner as could not be otherwise
  408. complement
    something added to embellish or make perfect
  409. accompany
    go or travel along with
  410. paragraph
    one of several distinct subdivisions of a text
  411. induced
    brought about or caused; not spontaneous
  412. schedule
    a list of times at which things are planned to occur
  413. intensity
    high level or degree
  414. crucial
    of extreme importance; vital to the resolution of a crisis
  415. viable
    capable of life or normal growth and development
  416. exhibit
    make visible or apparent
  417. bias
    a partiality preventing objective consideration of an issue
  418. manipulation
    exerting shrewd or devious influence for one's own advantage
  419. theme
    the subject matter of a conversation or discussion
  420. nuclear
    constituting the core or central part
  421. bulk
    the property possessed by a large mass
  422. behalf
    as the agent of or on someone's part
  423. unified
    formed or joined into a whole
  424. commence
    set in motion, cause to start
  425. erosion
    the process of wearing or grinding something down
  426. anticipated
    expected hopefully
  427. minimal
    the least possible
  428. cease
    put an end to a state or an activity
  429. vision
    the ability to see
  430. mutual
    common to or shared by two or more parties
  431. norm
    a standard or model or pattern regarded as typical
  432. intermediate
    lying between two extremes in time, space, or state
  433. manual
    of or relating to the hands
  434. supplementary
    functioning in a supporting capacity
  435. incompatible
    not in harmonious or agreeable combination
  436. concurrent
    occurring or operating at the same time
  437. ethical
    conforming to accepted standards of social behavior
  438. preliminary
    preceding or in preparation for something more important
  439. integral
    existing as an essential constituent or characteristic
  440. conversely
    with the terms of the relation reversed
  441. relaxed
    without strain or anxiety
  442. confined
    being in captivity
  443. accommodation
    making or becoming suitable; adjusting to circumstances
  444. temporary
    not permanent; not lasting
  445. distorted
    so badly formed or out of shape as to be ugly
  446. passive
    lacking in energy or will
  447. subordinate
    an assistant subject to the authority or control of another
  448. analogous
    similar or equivalent in some respects
  449. military
    the armed forces of a nation
  450. scenario
    a postulated sequence of possible events
  451. revolution
    a single complete turn
  452. diminished
    made to seem smaller or less, especially in worth
  453. coherence
    the state of sticking together
  454. suspended
    supported or kept from sinking or falling by buoyancy
  455. mature
    having reached full natural growth or development
  456. assurance
    a binding commitment to do or give or refrain from something
  457. rigid
    incapable of or resistant to bending
  458. controversy
    a dispute where there is strong disagreement
  459. sphere
    a round three-dimensional closed surface
  460. mediation
    the act of intervening to bring about a settlement
  461. format
    the general appearance of a publication
  462. trigger
    lever that activates the firing mechanism of a gun
  463. qualitative
    involving distinguishing attributes
  464. portion
    something determined in relation to a thing that includes it
  465. medium
    the surrounding environment
  466. coincide
    happen simultaneously
  467. violation
    an act that disregards an agreement or a right
  468. device
    an instrumentality invented for a particular purpose
  469. insight
    clear or deep perception of a situation
  470. refine
    reduce to a pure state
  471. devoted
    zealous in allegiance or affection
  472. team
    a cooperative unit
  473. overlap
    extend over and cover a part of
  474. attained
    achieved or reached
  475. restraint
    the act of controlling by holding someone or something back
  476. inherent
    existing as an essential constituent or characteristic
  477. route
    an established line of travel or access
  478. protocol
    forms of ceremony and etiquette observed by officials
  479. found
    set up
  480. duration
    the period of time during which something continues
  481. thereby
    by that means or because of that
  482. inclination
    the act of bending forward
  483. encounter
    come together
  484. convinced
    having a strong belief or conviction
  485. assembly
    a group of persons gathered together for a common purpose
  486. enormous
    extraordinarily large in size or extent or degree
  487. reluctant
    not eager
  488. posed
    arranged for pictorial purposes
  489. persistent
    stubbornly unyielding
  490. undergo
    pass through
  491. notwithstanding
    despite anything to the contrary
  492. straightforward
    pointed directly ahead
  493. panel
    sheet that forms a distinct section of something
  494. odd
    not divisible by two
  495. intrinsic
    belonging to a thing by its very nature
  496. compile
    get or gather together
  497. adjacent
    having a common boundary or edge
  498. integrity
    an undivided or unbroken completeness with nothing wanting
  499. forthcoming
    easygoing and open when speaking or sharing information
  500. conceive
    have the idea for
Created on Fri Aug 02 15:25:31 EDT 2013 (updated Fri Aug 02 16:34:53 EDT 2013)

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