Test prep

GED vocabulary words for test prep

This list supports adults preparing for the GED, covering everyday academic words along with terms common in the Social Studies section. Review the meanings below, then look for these words in news articles or practice passages to see how they're used in real context.

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GED vocabulary words for test prep

Word	Meaning	In a sentence
advocateverb	To publicly support or recommend a particular cause, policy, or course of action.	The doctor advocates for better access to mental health care in rural communities.
allocateverb	To distribute resources or duties for a particular purpose.	The city allocated extra funding to repair the aging water pipes.
amendmentnoun	A formal change, correction, or addition made to a law, constitution, or document.	Congress passed an amendment to the bill before sending it to the president.
boycottverb	To refuse to buy, use, or take part in something as a way of protesting.	Consumers began to boycott the company after reports of its unfair labor practices.
bureaucracynoun	A system of government or organization run by many officials and departments following fixed rules and procedures.	Getting a simple building permit required navigating several layers of confusing local bureaucracy.
censusnoun	An official count or survey of a population, often recording details such as age and occupation.	The national census is conducted every ten years to track population changes.
civicadjective	Relating to a city, town, or the responsibilities and rights of citizens within a community.	Voting in local elections is an important civic duty for every resident.
commoditynoun	A raw material or primary agricultural product that can be bought, sold, or traded, usually in bulk.	Coffee remains one of the most heavily traded commodities on global financial markets.
consensusnoun	General agreement reached by a group after discussion.	After hours of debate, the committee finally reached a consensus on the new policy.
constitutionnoun	The fundamental laws and principles that govern a country or organization, or a person's physical or mental makeup.	The nation's constitution guarantees freedom of speech and assembly to all citizens.
discriminationnoun	Unfair treatment of a person or group based on characteristics such as race, gender, or age.	The lawsuit accused the company of discrimination in its hiring practices.
economynoun	The system by which a country or region produces, distributes, and consumes goods, services, and money.	The nation's economy grew steadily despite rising prices around the world.
embargonoun	An official ban on trade or other commercial activity with a particular country.	The government imposed an embargo on oil exports to pressure the regime.
federaladjective	Relating to a system of government in which power is divided between a central authority and individual states.	The federal government sets national policy, while states handle many local matters.
immigrantnoun	A person who moves to live permanently in a country that is not their country of birth.	Her grandparents were immigrants who arrived from Italy in the 1950s seeking better opportunities.
industrialadjective	Relating to or characteristic of industry, especially large-scale manufacturing and production.	The city's industrial district is full of warehouses and factories along the river.
inflationnoun	A general and sustained rise in prices across an economy, reducing the purchasing power of money.	High inflation meant groceries cost noticeably more than they had the previous year.
legislaturenoun	A group of elected officials with the power to make or change laws for a country or region.	The state legislature passed a new bill on education funding this week.
migrationnoun	The movement of people or animals from one region or habitat to another, often seasonally.	The annual migration of wildebeest across the Serengeti attracts tourists from around the world.
minoritynoun	The smaller part of a group, or a group that differs from the larger, dominant part of a population in ethnicity, religion, or other traits.	Only a minority of the committee voted against the new policy.
monopolynoun	Complete control of the trade or supply of a product or service by a single company, excluding competitors.	The company held a near monopoly on the region's electricity supply for decades.
policynoun	A course of action or set of principles adopted by a government, business, or other organization.	The company introduced a new policy allowing employees to work from home two days a week.
povertynoun	The state of lacking sufficient money or material resources to meet basic needs.	Millions of families around the world still live in extreme poverty.
ratifyverb	To give formal approval to an agreement, making it officially valid.	The Senate must ratify the treaty before it can take effect.
reformverb	To improve something, especially a law, system, or institution, by removing its faults.	Lawmakers voted to reform the tax code to make it fairer for small businesses.
revenuenoun	The total income a government, company, or organization receives from its normal operations.	The company's revenue grew by twelve percent last quarter.
sovereigntynoun	The full authority of a state or nation to govern itself without outside interference.	The treaty formally recognized the island nation's sovereignty for the first time.
tariffnoun	A tax imposed by a government on goods imported from or exported to another country.	The new tariff on steel imports raised prices for domestic manufacturers.
tenantnoun	A person who pays rent to occupy land, a building, or an apartment owned by someone else.	The new tenant signed a one-year lease for the downtown apartment.
urbanizationnoun	The process by which more people come to live in cities rather than rural areas.	Rapid urbanization has pushed the city's population past ten million in two decades.

Frequently asked questions

Does the GED test social studies vocabulary?

The Social Studies section draws on civic and economic terms, so building familiarity with words like these can help you understand passages and questions more quickly.