SAT Vocabulary Words 20

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Approximately 5000 vocabulary words that should be memorized before taking the SAT. This lesson is broken into 26 parts.

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persuadable

persuadable (adj)
capable of influencing to action by entreaty, statement, or anything that moves the feelings.

pertinacious

pertinacious (adj)
Persistent or unyielding.

pertinacity

pertinacity (n)
Unyielding adherence.

pertinent

pertinent (adj)
Relevant.

perturb

perturb (v)
To disturb greatly.

perturbation

perturbation (n)
Mental excitement or confusion.

perusal

perusal (n)
The act of reading carefully or thoughtfully.

pervade

pervade (v)
To pass or spread through every part.

pervasion

pervasion (n)
The state of spreading through every part.

pervasive

pervasive (adj)
Thoroughly penetrating or permeating.

perverse

perverse (adj)
Unreasonable.

perversion

perversion (n)
Diversion from the true meaning or proper purpose.

perversity

perversity (n)
Wickedness.

pervert

pervert (n)
One who has forsaken a doctrine regarded as true for one esteemed false.

pervious

pervious (adj)
Admitting the entrance or passage of another substance.

pestilence

pestilence (n)
A raging epidemic.

pestilent

pestilent (adj)
Having a malign influence or effect.

pestilential

pestilential (adj)
having the nature of or breeding pestilence.

peter

peter (v)
To fail or lose power, efficiency, or value.

petrify

petrify (v)
To convert into a substance of stony hardness and character.

petulance

petulance (n)
The character or condition of being impatient, capricious or petulant.

petulant

petulant (adj)
Displaying impatience.

pharmacopoeia

pharmacopoeia (n)
A book containing the formulas and methods of preparation of medicines for the use of druggists.

pharmacy

pharmacy (n)
The art or business of compounding and dispensing medicines.

phenomenal

phenomenal (adj)
Extraordinary or marvelous.

phenomenon

phenomenon (n)
Any unusual occurrence.

philander

philander (v)
To play at courtship with a woman.

philanthropic

philanthropic (adj)
Benevolent.

philanthropist

philanthropist (n)
One who endeavors to help his fellow men.

philanthropy

philanthropy (n)
Active humanitarianism.

philately

philately (n)
The study and collection of stamps.

philharmonic

philharmonic (adj)
Fond of music.

philogynist

philogynist (n)
One who is fond of women.

philologist

philologist (n)
An expert in linguistics.

philology

philology (n)
The study of language in connection with history and literature.

philosophize

philosophize (v)
To seek ultimate causes and principles.

philosophy

philosophy (n)
The general principles, laws, or causes that furnish the rational explanation of anything.

phlegmatic

phlegmatic (adj)
Not easily roused to feeling or action.

phonetic

phonetic (adj)
Representing articulate sounds or speech.

phonic

phonic (adj)
Pertaining to the nature of sound.

phonogram

phonogram (n)
A graphic character symbolizing an articulate sound.

phonology

phonology (n)
The science of human vocal sounds.

phosphorescence

phosphorescence (n)
The property of emitting light.

photoelectric

photoelectric (adj)
Pertaining to the combined action of light and electricity.

photometer

photometer (n)
Any instrument for measuring the intensity of light or comparing the intensity of two lights.

photometry

photometry (n)
The art of measuring the intensity of light.

physicist

physicist (n)
A specialist in the science that treats of the phenomena associated with matter and energy.

physics

physics (n)
The science that treats of the phenomena associated with matter and energy.

physiocracy

physiocracy (n)
The doctrine that land and its products are the only true wealth.

physiognomy

physiognomy (n)
The external appearance merely.

physiography

physiography (n)
Description of nature.

physiology

physiology (n)
The science of organic functions.

physique

physique (n)
The physical structure or organization of a person.

picayune

picayune (adj)
Of small value.

piccolo

piccolo (n)
A small flute.

piece

piece (n)
A loose or separated part, as distinguished from the whole or the mass.

piecemeal

piecemeal (adv)
Gradually.

pillage

pillage (n)
Open robbery, as in war.

pillory

pillory (n)
A wooden framework in which an offender is fastened to boards and is exposed to public scorn.

pincers

pincers (n)
An instrument having two lever-handles and two jaws working on a pivot.

pinchers

pinchers (n)
An instrument having two jaws working on a pivot.

pinnacle

pinnacle (n)
A high or topmost point, as a mountain-peak.

pioneer

pioneer (n)
One among the first to explore a country.

pious

pious (adj)
Religious.

pique

pique (v)
To excite a slight degree of anger in.

piteous

piteous (adj)
Compassionate.

pitiable

pitiable (adj)
Contemptible.

pitiful

pitiful (adj)
Wretched.

pitiless

pitiless (adj)
Hard-hearted.

pittance

pittance (n)
Any small portion or meager allowance.

placate

placate (v)
To bring from a state of angry or hostile feeling to one of patience or friendliness.

placid

placid (adj)
Serene.

plagiarism

plagiarism (n)
The stealing of passages from the writings of another and publishing them as one's own.

planisphere

planisphere (n)
A polar projection of the heavens on a chart.

plasticity

plasticity (n)
The property of some substances through which the form of the mass can readily be changed.

platitude

platitude (n)
A written or spoken statement that is flat, dull, or commonplace.

plaudit

plaudit (n)
An expression of applause.

plausible

plausible (adj)
Seeming likely to be true, though open to doubt.

playful

playful (adj)
Frolicsome.

playwright

playwright (n)
A maker of plays for the stage.

plea

plea (n)
An argument to obtain some desired action.

pleasant

pleasant (adj)
Agreeable.

pleasurable

pleasurable (adj)
Affording gratification.

plebeian

plebeian (adj)
Common.

pledgee

pledgee (n)
The person to whom anything is pledged.

pledgeor

pledgeor (n)
One who gives a pledge.

plenary

plenary (adj)
Entire.

plenipotentiary

plenipotentiary (n)
A person fully empowered to transact any business.

plenitude

plenitude (n)
Abundance.

plenteous

plenteous (adj)
Abundant.

plumb

plumb (n)
A weight suspended by a line to test the verticality of something.

plummet

plummet (n)
A piece of lead for making soundings, adjusting walls to the vertical.

pluperfect

pluperfect (adj)
Expressing past time or action prior to some other past time or action.

plural

plural (adj)
Containing or consisting of more than one.

plurality

plurality (n)
A majority.

plutocracy

plutocracy (n)
A wealthy class in a political community who control the government by means of their money.

pneumatic

pneumatic (adj)
Pertaining to or consisting of air or gas.

poesy

poesy (n)
Poetry.

poetaster

poetaster (n)
An inferior poet.

poetic

poetic (adj)
Pertaining to poetry.

poetics

poetics (n)
The rules and principles of poetry.

poignancy

poignancy (n)
Severity or acuteness, especially of pain or grief.

poignant

poignant (adj)
Severely painful or acute to the spirit.

poise

poise (n)
Equilibrium.

polar

polar (adj)
Pertaining to the poles of a sphere, especially of the earth.

polemics

polemics (n)
The art of controversy or disputation.

pollen

pollen (n)
The fine dust-like grains or powder formed within the anther of a flowering plant.

pollute

pollute (v)
To contaminate.

polyarchy

polyarchy (n)
Government by several or many persons of what- ever class.

polycracy

polycracy (n)
The rule of many.

polygamy

polygamy (n)
the fact or condition of having more than one wife or husband at once.

polyglot

polyglot (adj)
Speaking several tongues.

polygon

polygon (n)
A figure having many angles.

polyhedron

polyhedron (n)
A solid bounded by plane faces, especially by more than four.

polysyllable

polysyllable (adj)
Having several syllables, especially more than three syllables.

polytechnic

polytechnic (adj)
Pertaining to, embracing, or practicing many arts.

polytheism

polytheism (n)
The doctrine or belief that there are more gods than one.

pommel

pommel (v)
To beat with something thick or bulky.

pomposity

pomposity (n)
The quality of being marked by an assumed stateliness and impressiveness of manner.

pompous

pompous (adj)
Marked by an assumed stateliness and impressiveness of manner.

ponder

ponder (v)
To meditate or reflect upon.

ponderous

ponderous (adj)
Unusually weighty or forcible.

pontiff

pontiff (n)
The Pope.

populace

populace (n)
The common people.

populous

populous (adj)
Containing many inhabitants, especially in proportion to the territory.

portend

portend (v)
To indicate as being about to happen, especially by previous signs.

portent

portent (n)
Anything that indicates what is to happen.

portfolio

portfolio (n)
A portable case for holding writing-materials, drawings, etc.

posit

posit (v)
To present in an orderly manner.

position

position (n)
The manner in which a thing is placed.

positive

positive (adj)
Free from doubt or hesitation.

posse

posse (n)
A force of men.

possess

possess (v)
To own.

possession

possession (n)
The having, holding, or detention of property in one's power or command.

possessive

possessive (adj)
Pertaining to the having, holding, or detention of property in one's power or command.

possessor

possessor (n)
One who owns, enjoys, or controls anything, as property.

possible

possible (adj)
Being not beyond the reach of power natural, moral, or supernatural.

postdate

postdate (v)
To make the date of any writing later than the real date.

posterior

posterior (n)
The hinder part.

postgraduate

postgraduate (adj)
Pertaining to studies that are pursued after receiving a degree.

postscript

postscript (n)
Something added to a letter after the writer's signature.

potency

potency (n)
Power.

potent

potent (adj)
Physically powerful.

potentate

potentate (n)
One possessed of great power or sway.

potential

potential (n)
Anything that may be possible.

potion

potion (n)
A dose of liquid medicine.

powerless

powerless (adj)
Impotent.

practicable

practicable (adj)
Feasible.

prate

prate (v)
To talk about vainly or foolishly.

prattle

prattle (v)
To utter in simple or childish talk.

preamble

preamble (n)
A statement introductory to and explanatory of what follows.

precarious

precarious (adj)
Perilous.

precaution

precaution (n)
A provision made in advance for some possible emergency or danger.

precede

precede (v)
To happen first.

precedence

precedence (n)
Priority in place, time, or rank.

precedent

precedent (n)
An instance that may serve as a guide or basis for a rule.

precedential

precedential (adj)
Of the nature of an instance that may serve as a guide or basis for a rule.

precession

precession (n)
The act of going forward.

precipice

precipice (n)
A high and very steep or approximately vertical cliff.

precipitant

precipitant (adj)
Moving onward quickly and heedlessly.

precipitate

precipitate (v)
To force forward prematurely.

precise

precise (adj)
Exact.

precision

precision (n)
Accuracy of limitation, definition, or adjustment.

preclude

preclude (v)
To prevent.

precocious

precocious (adj)
Having the mental faculties prematurely developed.

precursor

precursor (n)
A forerunner or herald.

predatory

predatory (adj)
Prone to pillaging.

predecessor

predecessor (n)
An incumbent of a given office previous to another.

predicament

predicament (n)
A difficult, trying situation or plight.

predicate

predicate (v)
To state as belonging to something.

predict

predict (v)
To foretell.

prediction

prediction (n)
A prophecy.

predominance

predominance (n)
Ascendancy or preponderance.

predominant

predominant (adj)
Superior in power, influence, effectiveness, number, or degree.

predominate

predominate (v)
To be chief in importance, quantity, or degree.

preeminence

preeminence (n)
Special eminence.

preempt

preempt (v)
To secure the right of preference in the purchase of public land.

preemption

preemption (n)
The right or act of purchasing before others.

preengage

preengage (v)
To preoccupy.

preestablish

preestablish (v)
To settle or arrange beforehand.

preexist

preexist (v)
To exist at a period or in a state earlier than something else.

preexistence

preexistence (n)
Existence antecedent to something.

preface

preface (n)
A brief explanation or address to the reader, at the beginning of a book.

prefatory

prefatory (adj)
Pertaining to a brief explanation to the reader at the beginning of a book.

prefer

prefer (v)
To hold in higher estimation.

preferable

preferable (adj)
More desirable than others.

preference

preference (n)
An object of favor or choice.

preferential

preferential (adj)
Possessing, giving, or constituting preference or priority.

preferment

preferment (n)
Preference.

prefix

prefix (v)
To attach at the beginning.

prehensible

prehensible (adj)
Capable of being grasped.

prehensile

prehensile (adj)
Adapted for grasping or holding.

prehension

prehension (n)
The act of laying hold of or grasping.

prejudice

prejudice (n)
A judgment or opinion formed without due examination of the facts.

prelacy

prelacy (n)
A system of church government.

prelate

prelate (n)
One of a higher order of clergy having direct authority over other clergy.