114 words every grade 8 speller should know, each with a kid-friendly definition. Hear them read aloud and practice for free with the Spellaroo spelling quiz.
High-frequency words students should recognize instantly.
| Word | Definition |
|---|---|
| absence | state of being away |
| account | report; record |
| achievement | accomplishment |
| ambitious | having strong desire to succeed |
| analyze | to examine in detail |
| article | piece of writing |
| atmosphere | air surrounding earth |
| beneath | under; below |
| cause | reason something happens |
| combine | to join together |
| complex | complicated; difficult |
| connection | link between things |
| consequence | result of action |
| constant | continuing without change |
| construct | to build |
| context | circumstances surrounding event |
| declare | to state firmly |
| describe | to tell about in detail |
| difference | way things are not alike |
| discussion | conversation about topic |
| increase | to make or become larger |
| instrument | tool; device for making music |
| kill | to cause death |
| moment | very short time |
| object | thing you can see and touch |
| Word | Definition |
|---|---|
| adaptation | change to fit environment |
| advantageous | beneficial; helpful |
| advocate | person who supports a cause |
| analysis | detailed examination |
| anticipate | to expect or predict |
| apparatus | equipment for specific purpose |
| argumentative | presenting reasons for opinion |
| articulate | to express clearly |
| assertive | confident and direct |
| association | connection or organization |
| attribute | characteristic or quality |
| authentic | genuine; real |
| automatic | working by itself |
| bacteria | microscopic organisms |
| biological | relating to living things |
| characteristics | features that identify something |
| circumstance | condition or situation |
| classification | arrangement in classes |
| collaboration | working together |
| combination | joining of two or more things |
| commitment | dedication; promise |
| communicate | to share information |
| compare | to examine similarities |
| comparison | act of comparing |
| component | part of larger whole |
| comprehensive | including everything |
| conceptual | relating to ideas |
| conclusion | end; final decision |
| conservation | protection of natural resources |
| consideration | careful thought |
| contamination | making impure or dirty |
| contrast | to show differences |
| correspondence | letters; similarity |
| creative | able to make new things |
| decade | period of ten years |
| description | account of characteristics |
| develop | to grow or improve |
| development | process of growing |
| discover | to find out something new |
| distinctive | characteristic of one person or thing |
| distribution | giving out; spread |
| efficiency | working well without waste |
| elaboration | detailed explanation |
| emotion | strong feeling |
| environmental | relating to surroundings |
| evaluation | assessment of value |
| exaggeration | making something seem larger |
| examination | detailed inspection |
| exception | person or thing excluded |
| explanation | making something clear |
| foundation | base or basis |
| generation | all people born around same time |
| historical | relating to history |
| hypothesis | educated guess for testing |
| illustration | picture; example |
| immigration | coming to live permanently |
| independence | freedom from outside control |
| independent | free; not controlled by others |
| industrial | relating to industry |
| influence | power to affect others |
| interpretation | explanation of meaning |
| investigation | formal or systematic examination |
| judgment | ability to make decisions |
| justification | reason for action |
| legislation | laws considered collectively |
| methodology | system of methods |
| movement | act of moving |
| natural | existing in nature |
| observation | action of watching carefully |
| occurrence | instance of something happening |
| percentage | rate per hundred |
| perspective | point of view |
| phenomenon | observable event |
| philosophy | study of fundamental nature |
| possibility | thing that may happen |
| preparation | getting ready |
| production | action of making goods |
| psychology | scientific study of mind |
| recognition | identification of something |
| republic | state with elected representatives |
| requirement | thing that is needed |
| significance | importance; meaning |
| suggestion | idea put forward for consideration |
| theoretical | based on theory, not practice |
| transportation | system of conveying people |
| understanding | ability to comprehend |
| variation | change or difference |
| wilderness | uncultivated and uninhabited region |
| worksheet | paper with questions for students |