High school taught us to memorize a lot of facts that rarely came up again afterward, including the year the English navy defeated the Spanish Armada (1588) and that mitochondria are the “powerhouse of the cell.” We also learned a lot of lengthy vocabulary words in preparation for the SATs, but if you are not particularly sesquipedalian (“given to or characterized by the use of long words”), your inchoate (“unfinished, immature”) brain might have erased many of those words. And while some of them were likely obscure, there are plenty of advanced vocabulary words that have a strong presence in everyday life.
Lots of those classic SAT words have become part of informal conversations, appearing as internet slang. In some cases, the meaning has changed or the word has been shortened. The vocabulary of internet conversations has come a long way since “You’ve Got Mail” alerts.
Charisma
“A special magnetic charm or appeal.”
This SAT word for magnetic charm or appeal is now shortened to “rizz,” keeping roughly the same definition.
Delusional
“Relating to, based on, or marked by delusions.”
If a person believes obviously false information despite indisputable evidence, they might be “delulu,” in today’s slang.
Demure
“Marked by quiet modesty, sedate reserve, restraint, or sobriety.”
In 2024, a TikTok beauty influencer named Jools LeBron referred to her makeup as “very demure, very mindful,” and suddenly we were all using this word meaning “reserved or modest,” usually in the exact opposite context.
Feral
“Being, characteristic of, or suggesting an animal in the state of nature.”
This adjective for animals in their natural environment is now also shorthand for unhinged human behavior.
Lore
“A body of traditions relating to a person, institution, or place.”
Many people now use “lore” to refer to their own mysterious origin story. “Tell me the lore” is a request for the backstory.
Manifest
“To show plainly; make palpably evident or certain by showing or displaying.”
Traditionally, this word as a verb means “to make evident” by showing physically, but now the idea of “manifesting” is about making your own dreams come true.
Aesthetic
“Relating to the beautiful as distinguished from the merely pleasing, the moral, and especially the useful and utilitarian.”
This word, relating to beauty and appearance, has developed a new importance thanks to visual media such as Instagram and TikTok. It’s common for someone to curate a niche aesthetic, such as “Dark Academia” or “Y2K.”
Suspicious
“Arousing or tending to arouse suspicion.”
If you’ve heard the word “sus,” you may have had a suspicion that it was short for “suspicious.” However, sometimes it means “suspect.” For example, someone might say, “Jimmy was acting pretty sus” — and they could mean “suspicious” or “suspect” (“not to be relied on or trusted; possibly dangerous or false”). As on the SATs, context clues are important to deciphering meaning.
Grocery store labels can be confusing — could someone explain the difference between “free-range” and “cage-free” eggs? Fortunately, SAT vocabulary words are helpful in decoding some of the information.
Artisanal
“Produced in limited quantities by an artisan through the use of traditional methods.”
Meaning “hand-crafted in limited quantities,” this term suggests an artisan (a worker who practices a trade or handicraft) prepared the food with care.
Enriched
“To make richer in some quality (as in nutritive value, savor, or beauty).”
Many cereals claim to be enriched with vitamins and minerals. Reading the label can help you determine what the ingredients are and what quantities of vitamins and minerals the food contains.
Refined
“Free from impurities.”
This term is typically found on white sugar to indicate that it has gone through a process to make it “free from impurities.”
Heritage
“Emphasizing the traditional or nostalgic.”
As a noun, “heritage” refers to an inherited property or trait, but in the context or food, it’s usually used as an adjective. For example, heritage pork is made from rare breeds of pigs. An heirloom tomato is a varietal that is less commonly grown than most that you’ll find at the grocery store, but you’re likely to see them at farmers markets.
Authentic
“Marked by conformity to widespread or long-continued tradition.”
Something that is authentic follows traditions. For example, in order to make an “authentic” Neapolitan pizza, it requires a specific mozzarella from Italy.
SAT words often appear in news reports, which is probably why teachers encouraged you to learn them. Here are some words that might not have seemed important when you were in high school but appear regularly in the paper.
Accumulation
“The action or process of accumulating; state of being or having accumulated; a collecting together.”
In places where the precipitation can accumulate, weather reports will tally the accumulation.
Conditional
“Containing, implying, subject to, or depending on a condition.”
Laws and treaties are often conditional, meaning they depend on certain terms being met.
Deficit
“An excess of debit over credit items; deficiency in amount or quality.”
Meaning “shortfall,” this word appears everywhere a budget does, as well as in some sports reports.
Mandate
“An authoritative command, order, or injunction; a clear instruction, authorization, or direction.”
Whether referring to an order or a requirement, a mandate is a rule, so you’ll see it in discussions about laws being made (or broken).
Myopic
“Lacking in foresight, discernment, or liberality.”
The medical term for nearsightedness can also describe something that is shortsighted.
Auspicious
“Favoring or conducive to success; showing or suggesting that future success is likely; affording an especially favorable auspice.”
An auspicious debut is a promising start, suggesting hope and success is on the horizon.
Catalyst
“An agent that provokes or precipitates catalysis.”
In science, a catalyst is a substance that speeds up a chemical reaction. In the news, it refers to an event or person that sparks change.
Cerebral
“Of or relating to the brain or the intellect; appealing to intellectual and critical rather than emotional appreciation.”
A review might describe a book or film as cerebral, meaning it appeals more to intellect than to emotion.
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