8th Grade Vocabulary

This is every word that has definitions for 8th Grade. Good luck and try to remember those words!

debate

A discussion between people who disagree on a subject

preface

A section that introduces a written text that usually gives information about the text or the author

allusion

A reference that is not direct

bias

An opinion which is prejudiced OR A partiality that prevents objective consideration of an issue or situation

sequence

The order or pattern in which things happen

adversary

An opponent or enemy

catastrophe

A terrible disaster

cite

To quote as an authority

descendant

Someone who comes from a specific ancestor or group of ancestors

fatigue

The condition of being very tired

generosity

The condition of being kind; willing to give

habitat

The place where an animal or plant normally lives or grows

massacre

The violent killing of many people

matriarch

A female head of a family or tribe

neglect

Fail to do something; leave something undone

obstacle

Something that stands in the way of progress or achievement

patriot

One who loves and defends his or her country

refuge

A safe place

scarce

Lacking in quantity or number compared with the demand

wander

To move about without a purpose or destination

construct

To build or make something physical such as a road, bridge, or building OR make by combining materials and parts

determine

To find out or come to a decision OR establish after a calculation, investigation, experiment, survey, or study

opinion

What someone thinks about a particular thing OR A personal belief or judgement that is not founded on proof or certainty

coherent

Logical and well-organized; easy to understand

focus

A center of activity or interest OR the concentration of attention or energy on something

fiction

A made-up story OR a literary work based on the imagination and not necessarily on fact

alliteration

The repetition of a sound at the beginning of two or more neighboring words. Example: “wild and woolly” or a “babbling brook”

advantage

The quality of having a superior or more favorable position

calculate

Make a mathematical computation

change

Make different; cause a transformation

factor

One of two or more integers that can be exactly divided into another integer

design

Plan something for a specific role, purpose or effect

humor

Quality that makes something funny

impact

The striking of one body against another

laboratory

A workplace for the conduct of scientific research

literacy

The ability to read and write

offspring

The immediate descendants of a person or animal

position

The particular portion of space occupied by something

problem

A state of difficulty that needs to be resolved

quality

An essential and distinguishing attribute of something or someone

religion

An institution to express belief in a divine power

solution

A statement that explains how to solve a problem

caption

Brief description accompanying an illustration

consumer

A person who uses goods or services

emperor

The male ruler of an empire

interview

The questioning of a person, often conducted by journalists

speed

A rate, usually rapid, at which something happens

trial

The determination of a person’s innocence or guilt by due process of law

environment

The area in which something exists or lives

expressive

Visibly showing thoughts and feelings

central

Serving as an essential component

climate

The weather in some location averaged over some long period of time

conflict

An open clash between two opposing groups or individuals

engage

Carry out or participate in an activity; be involved in

evidence

All the means by which any alleged matter of fact whose truth is investigated at a judicial trial is established or disproved

expression

A group of symbols that make a mathematical statement

frequency

The number of occurrences within a given time period

grammar

The branch of linguistics that deals with syntax and morphology

inquiry

An instance of questioning

integer

Any of the natural numbers, positive or negative, or zero: not a fraction

linear

Of, in, along, or relating to a line; involving or having a single dimension

motion

A natural event that involves a change in the position or location of something

mystery

A story about a crime presented as a novel, play or movie

negative

Less than zero

positive

Greater than zero

prime

Of superior grade

quarterly

In three month intervals

review

An essay or article that gives a critical evaluation of something like a book, restaurant, or play

verify

Confirm the truth of

editorial

An article giving opinions or perspectives

tendency

An attitude of mind, especially one that favors one alternative over others

isolate

Place or set apart

judgment

The determination by a court of competent jurisdiction on matters submitted to it

congruent

Coinciding when superimposed

philosophy

The rational investigation of questions about existence, knowledge, and ethics

capitalism

An economic system based on private ownership of wealth

civilization

The social process whereby societies achieve an advanced stage of development and organization