TEAS Vocabulary List: 100+ Essential Words and Word Roots Every Test-Taker Must Know

Vocabulary isn't just tested in one section of the TEAS — it affects your performance across the entire exam. The Reading section requires you to determine word meanings from context, the English section tests vocabulary in use, and even Science passages rely on your ability to decode technical terminology. Building a strong vocabulary is one of the highest-return investments you can make in your TEAS preparation.

This guide provides a curated list of high-frequency TEAS vocabulary words organized by category, essential Latin and Greek roots that unlock the meaning of hundreds of medical and academic terms, and proven strategies for figuring out unfamiliar words on test day.

Why Vocabulary Matters on the TEAS

The TEAS doesn't test vocabulary through simple definitions. Instead, you'll encounter vocabulary in three ways:

• Context clues: Questions ask you to determine the meaning of a word as used in a specific passage. The correct answer depends on context, not just the dictionary definition.
• Word structure: Understanding prefixes, suffixes, and roots lets you decode unfamiliar words — especially medical and scientific terminology that appears in Science passages.
• Vocabulary in use: The English section tests whether you can select the most precise or appropriate word for a given sentence.

Students who invest time in vocabulary preparation consistently score higher on both Reading and English sections because vocabulary knowledge compounds — every word you learn helps you understand passages faster and answer questions more accurately.

High-Frequency Academic Vocabulary for the TEAS

These words appear frequently in TEAS passages and answer choices. Knowing them cold will save you time and improve comprehension.

• Analyze — to examine something in detail to understand it or draw conclusions
• Assertion — a confident and forceful statement of fact or belief
• Bias — prejudice in favor of or against something; an unfair inclination
• Cite — to quote or reference a source as evidence or authority
• Comprehensive — covering all or nearly all aspects of something; thorough
• Concise — giving information clearly and briefly; succinct
• Contradict — to assert the opposite of a statement; to deny or dispute
• Correlate — to have a mutual relationship or connection between two things
• Credible — able to be believed; trustworthy and convincing
• Criterion — a standard or principle used for judging or deciding (plural: criteria)
• Deduce — to arrive at a conclusion through reasoning from evidence
• Empirical — based on observation or experience rather than theory or logic
• Explicit — stated clearly and in detail, leaving no room for ambiguity
• Hypothesis — a proposed explanation that can be tested through experimentation
• Implicit — implied or suggested but not directly stated
• Infer — to conclude something from evidence and reasoning rather than from direct statements
• Mitigate — to make something less severe, serious, or painful
• Objective — based on facts, not influenced by personal feelings or opinions
• Pertinent — relevant or applicable to a particular matter
• Subjective — based on personal feelings, opinions, or interpretations

Essential Latin and Greek Roots for the TEAS

Learning word roots is the single most efficient vocabulary strategy for the TEAS. A single root can unlock the meaning of dozens of words. Here are the most important roots for the exam:

• Bio (life): biology, biopsy, antibiotic, biodegradable
• Cardio (heart): cardiovascular, cardiac, cardiologist, tachycardia
• Hemo/Hema (blood): hemoglobin, hemorrhage, hematology, anemia
• Hepat (liver): hepatitis, hepatic, hepatology, hepatocyte
• Nephro/Renal (kidney): nephritis, renal, nephrologist, nephron
• Neuro (nerve): neurology, neuron, neuropathy, neurotransmitter
• Osteo (bone): osteoporosis, osteocyte, osteopathy, osteoblast
• Path (disease/suffering): pathology, pathogen, sympathy, psychopath
• Pulmo (lung): pulmonary, pulmonologist, cardiopulmonary
• Derm (skin): dermatology, epidermis, dermatitis, hypodermic
• Gastro (stomach): gastric, gastroenterology, gastritis, gastropod
• Endo (within): endocrine, endoscopy, endothermic, endogenous
• Exo (outside): exocrine, exoskeleton, exothermic, exogenous
• Hyper (excessive/above): hypertension, hyperglycemia, hyperthermia
• Hypo (under/below): hypotension, hypoglycemia, hypothermia, hypodermic

Critical Prefixes and Suffixes

Prefixes and suffixes modify root words in predictable ways. Mastering these patterns lets you decode any unfamiliar word on the exam.

• Anti- (against): antibiotic, antiseptic, antidote, anti-inflammatory
• Pre- (before): prenatal, prediabetes, premenopausal, precaution
• Post- (after): postoperative, postpartum, postmortem, postnatal
• Inter- (between): intercellular, interdisciplinary, interaction
• Intra- (within): intravenous, intracellular, intramuscular
• Mal- (bad/abnormal): malnutrition, malignant, malfunction, malpractice
• -itis (inflammation): arthritis, bronchitis, hepatitis, dermatitis
• -ectomy (surgical removal): appendectomy, mastectomy, tonsillectomy
• -ology (study of): biology, cardiology, dermatology, psychology
• -osis (condition/disease): neurosis, cyanosis, fibrosis, stenosis
• -emia (blood condition): anemia, septicemia, leukemia, hyperglycemia
• -pnea (breathing): dyspnea, apnea, tachypnea, orthopnea

Context Clue Strategies for Unknown Words

No matter how much vocabulary you study, you'll encounter unfamiliar words on the TEAS. Context clue strategies help you determine meaning without prior knowledge of the word.

• Definition clues: The author directly defines the word in the sentence. Look for phrases like 'which means,' 'is defined as,' or 'also known as.'
• Synonym clues: A nearby word or phrase means the same thing. Example: 'The patient was lethargic, tired and lacking energy throughout the day.'
• Antonym clues: The context provides an opposite meaning. Look for contrast words like 'but,' 'however,' 'unlike,' or 'whereas.'
• Example clues: The author gives examples that reveal the word's meaning. Signal phrases include 'such as,' 'for instance,' and 'including.'
• Root analysis: Break the unknown word into its prefix, root, and suffix. Even partial understanding of one component narrows down the meaning significantly.

Medical and Scientific Vocabulary for TEAS Science

The Science section of the TEAS includes passages with specialized terminology. You don't need to memorize every medical term, but familiarity with these high-frequency words gives you a significant advantage.

• Homeostasis — the body's ability to maintain stable internal conditions despite external changes
• Metabolism — the chemical processes in the body that convert food into energy
• Mitosis — cell division that produces two identical daughter cells
• Meiosis — cell division that produces four genetically different cells (gametes)
• Osmosis — the movement of water across a semipermeable membrane from low to high solute concentration
• Diffusion — the movement of molecules from an area of high concentration to low concentration
• Antibody — a protein produced by the immune system to neutralize pathogens
• Antigen — a substance that triggers an immune response in the body
• Enzyme — a protein that speeds up chemical reactions in the body without being consumed
• Pathogen — a microorganism that causes disease (bacteria, viruses, fungi, parasites)
• Inflammation — the body's protective response to injury or infection, marked by redness, swelling, heat, and pain
• Hemoglobin — the protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen from the lungs to tissues
• Plasma — the liquid component of blood that carries cells, proteins, and waste products
• Synapse — the junction between two nerve cells where signals are transmitted
• Peristalsis — the wave-like muscle contractions that move food through the digestive tract

Words Commonly Confused on the TEAS

The English section often tests your ability to distinguish between words that look or sound similar but have different meanings. Here are the most commonly tested pairs:

• Affect (verb: to influence) vs. Effect (noun: a result or outcome)
• Complement (something that completes) vs. Compliment (an expression of praise)
• Discreet (careful, prudent) vs. Discrete (separate, distinct)
• Elicit (to draw out a response) vs. Illicit (illegal, unlawful)
• Emigrate (to leave a country) vs. Immigrate (to enter a country)
• Precede (to come before) vs. Proceed (to move forward)
• Principal (main/head of school) vs. Principle (a fundamental truth or rule)
• Stationary (not moving) vs. Stationery (writing materials)
• Than (comparison) vs. Then (time sequence)
• Accept (to receive) vs. Except (to exclude)

How to Build Your TEAS Vocabulary Effectively

Cramming vocabulary lists the night before doesn't work. Here's a proven system for building lasting vocabulary knowledge:

• Learn 5–10 new words per day: Small, consistent batches stick better than marathon study sessions.
• Use spaced repetition: Review words at increasing intervals — after 1 day, 3 days, 7 days, and 14 days.
• Practice in context: Read nursing and science articles to see vocabulary words used naturally. Highlight and look up unfamiliar words.
• Create associations: Connect new words to images, stories, or personal experiences. The more connections your brain makes, the stronger the memory.
• Quiz yourself regularly: Active recall (testing yourself) is far more effective than passive review (re-reading lists).
• Focus on word families: When you learn a root, learn multiple words that share it. This multiplies your vocabulary exponentially.