100 LSAT Vocabulary and Terms with Meanings and Examples

argumentnoun

A set of statements in which one or more premises are offered to support a conclusion.

“The argument’s premises do not fully support its conclusion.”

premisenoun

A statement offered as evidence for a conclusion.

“The first premise states that sales fell after the price rise.”

conclusionnoun

The main claim an argument tries to prove.

“Look for words like “therefore” to find the conclusion.”

assumptionnoun

An unstated premise the argument relies on.

“The argument assumes that the survey was representative.”

necessary assumptionnoun

A premise that must be true for the argument to work.

“If negating the answer destroys the argument, it is a necessary assumption.”

sufficient assumptionnoun

A premise that, if added, guarantees the conclusion.

“A sufficient assumption makes the conclusion follow logically.”

inferencenoun

A statement that must be true based on the given information.

“Choose the inference best supported by the passage.”

flawnoun

An error in reasoning that weakens an argument.

“The flaw is confusing correlation with causation.”

strengthenverb

To make a conclusion more likely to be true.

“New evidence that rules out other causes strengthens the argument.”

weakenverb

To make a conclusion less likely to be true.

“An alternative explanation weakens the argument.”

parallel reasoningnoun

An argument with the same logical structure as another.

“The parallel reasoning answer matched the original’s structure exactly.”

principlenoun

A general rule that can justify a specific judgment.

“Which principle best supports the manager’s decision?”

paradoxnoun

An apparent contradiction that needs explaining.

“Resolve the paradox by finding a fact that makes both claims true.”

evaluateverb

To identify information that would help judge an argument.

“To evaluate the plan, we would need to know its cost.”

counterexamplenoun

A case that shows a general claim is false.

“One black swan is a counterexample to “all swans are white.””

causal claimnoun

A claim that one thing causes another.

“A causal claim needs more than two events happening together.”

conditional statementnoun

An if–then statement.

““If it rains, the game is cancelled” is a conditional statement.”

contrapositivenoun

The logically equivalent form of a conditional, reversing and negating both parts.

“The contrapositive of “if A then B” is “if not B then not A.””

necessary conditionnoun

Something required for an outcome, but not enough by itself.

“Oxygen is a necessary condition for fire.”

sufficient conditionnoun

Something that guarantees an outcome.

“Being a square is a sufficient condition for being a rectangle.”

ad hominemnoun

Attacking the person rather than the argument.

“Calling the senator “a dropout” is an ad hominem attack.”

circular reasoningnoun

Assuming in the premises what the conclusion claims.

““He is honest because he says he never lies” is circular reasoning.”

straw mannoun

Misrepresenting an opponent’s position to make it easier to attack.

“Saying she wants “no rules at all” is a straw man of her proposal.”

equivocationnoun

Shifting the meaning of a key word within an argument.

“The argument equivocates on “free,” meaning both “no cost” and “unrestricted.””

false dichotomynoun

Presenting two options as the only ones when others exist.

““Ban cars or accept pollution” is a false dichotomy.”

hasty generalizationnoun

Drawing a broad conclusion from too few examples.

“Judging a city by one rainy day is a hasty generalization.”

appeal to authoritynoun

Relying on an authority outside their expertise.

“A famous actor’s view on vaccines is an inappropriate appeal to authority.”

composition fallacynoun

Assuming what is true of the parts is true of the whole.

“Every player is excellent, so the team must be excellent? That is a composition fallacy.”

sampling biasnoun

Drawing conclusions from a sample that does not represent the group.

“Surveying only gym members about exercise habits creates sampling bias.”

main pointnoun

The overall conclusion an argument or passage supports.

“The main point is usually not the first sentence.”

plaintiffnoun

The person or party who brings a lawsuit.

“The plaintiff claimed the product was defective.”

defendantnoun

The person or party being sued or accused.

“The defendant pleaded not guilty.”

statutenoun

A written law passed by a legislature.

“The statute sets a two-year time limit for claims.”

precedentnoun

An earlier court decision used as a guide for later cases.

“The ruling set a precedent for privacy cases.”

stare decisisnoun

The principle that courts follow earlier decisions.

“Under stare decisis, the lower court followed the higher court’s ruling.”

jurisdictionnoun

The official power of a court to hear a case.

“The state court lacked jurisdiction over the federal claim.”

tortnoun

A wrongful act, other than breach of contract, that causes harm and leads to civil liability.

“Negligence is the most common tort.”

liabilitynoun

Legal responsibility for something.

“The company accepted liability for the damage.”

negligencenoun

Failure to take reasonable care, causing harm.

“The driver’s negligence caused the accident.”

injunctionnoun

A court order requiring or forbidding an action.

“The judge issued an injunction halting construction.”

adjudicateverb

To make a formal judgment on a dispute.

“A panel will adjudicate the claim.”

appellateadjective

Relating to appeals of lower-court decisions.

“The appellate court reversed the verdict.”

briefnoun

A written argument submitted to a court.

“Each side filed a brief before the hearing.”

depositionnoun

Sworn out-of-court testimony recorded for later use.

“The witness gave a three-hour deposition.”

due processnoun

Fair legal procedures guaranteed before depriving someone of rights.

“The policy was struck down for lacking due process.”

felonynoun

A serious crime, usually punishable by more than a year in prison.

“Burglary is a felony in most states.”

misdemeanornoun

A less serious crime.

“Shoplifting a small item is often charged as a misdemeanor.”

indictmentnoun

A formal charge of a serious crime.

“The grand jury returned an indictment.”

litigationnoun

The process of taking legal action.

“The dispute ended in years of litigation.”

mens reanoun

The mental state or intent required for a crime.

“Prosecutors must prove mens rea as well as the act itself.”

pro bonoadjective

Done without charge for the public good.

“The firm takes pro bono cases for tenants.”

remandverb

To send a case back to a lower court.

“The higher court remanded the case for a new trial.”

subpoenanoun

A legal order to appear or provide documents.

“She received a subpoena to testify.”

testimonynoun

A formal statement given under oath.

“His testimony contradicted the video evidence.”

verdictnoun

The decision of a jury or judge on the facts.

“The jury reached a verdict after two days.”

affidavitnoun

A written statement sworn to be true.

“The landlord filed an affidavit describing the damage.”

amicus curiaenoun

A non-party who offers information to a court, usually in a brief.

“Several universities filed amicus curiae briefs.”

contractnoun

A legally enforceable agreement.

“A valid contract needs an offer, acceptance and consideration.”

damagesnoun

Money awarded to compensate for loss or injury.

“The court awarded damages for lost wages.”

equitynoun

Fairness; in law, remedies such as injunctions rather than money.

“The court used its equity powers to order the sale.”

ambivalentadjective

Having mixed feelings.

“The author is ambivalent about the reform.”

analogousadjective

Comparable in certain respects.

“The heart is analogous to a pump.”

arbitraryadjective

Based on random choice rather than reason.

“The cutoff date seemed arbitrary.”

attenuateverb

To weaken or reduce in force.

“The new evidence attenuates the critic’s objection.”

bifurcateverb

To divide into two branches.

“The debate bifurcated into economic and moral questions.”

circumscribeverb

To restrict within limits.

“The ruling circumscribed the agency’s power.”

concedeverb

To admit something is true, often reluctantly.

“The author concedes that the data are limited.”

contendverb

To assert as a position.

“Some historians contend that the treaty failed.”

contingentadjective

Dependent on something else.

“The offer is contingent on a background check.”

dichotomynoun

A division into two opposed parts.

“The essay challenges the dichotomy between nature and nurture.”

discrepancynoun

A difference between things that should match.

“There is a discrepancy between the two reports.”

elucidateverb

To make clear; explain.

“The second paragraph elucidates the theory.”

explicateverb

To analyze and explain in detail.

“The critic explicates the poem line by line.”

extrapolateverb

To extend known data to unknown situations.

“It is risky to extrapolate from one small study.”

heuristicnoun

A rule of thumb for solving problems.

““Read the question first” is a useful heuristic.”

hypotheticaladjective

Based on a supposed situation.

“The author poses a hypothetical case.”

implicitadjective

Suggested but not directly stated.

“There is an implicit criticism in her tone.”

impartialadjective

Treating all sides equally.

“Judges must remain impartial.”

incontrovertibleadjective

Impossible to deny.

“The footage provided incontrovertible proof.”

inherentadjective

Existing as a natural, permanent part.

“Risk is inherent in any investment.”

juxtaposeverb

To place side by side for contrast.

“The passage juxtaposes two theories of memory.”

mandatenoun

An official order or authority to act.

“The agency has a mandate to protect wetlands.”

nuancenoun

A subtle difference in meaning or tone.

“The summary missed the nuance of her argument.”

objectiveadjective

Not influenced by personal feelings.

“An objective observer would reach the same result.”

paradigmnoun

A model or pattern of thinking.

“The discovery shifted the paradigm in physics.”

precludeverb

To make impossible in advance.

“The rule precludes late submissions.”

presupposeverb

To require as a precondition.

“The argument presupposes that people act rationally.”

proponentnoun

A person who argues in favor of something.

“Proponents say the law will reduce crime.”

qualifyverb

To limit a claim by adding conditions.

“The author qualifies her claim in the final paragraph.”

reconcileverb

To make two ideas consistent.

“The scholar tries to reconcile the two accounts.”

salientadjective

Most noticeable or important.

“The salient difference is the sample size.”

skepticaladjective

Doubtful about a claim.

“The author is skeptical of the new method.”

speculativeadjective

Based on guesswork rather than evidence.

“The link is speculative.”

subordinateadjective

Lower in rank or importance.

“Cost is subordinate to safety in the author’s view.”

substantiateverb

To support with evidence.

“The passage does not substantiate the claim.”

superficialadjective

Existing only on the surface; shallow.

“The similarity between the cases is superficial.”

tenuousadjective

Weak or slight.

“The connection is tenuous at best.”

unprecedentedadjective

Never done or known before.

“The court’s decision was unprecedented.”

untenableadjective

Not able to be defended.

“The original position became untenable.”

warrantverb

To justify or necessitate.

“The evidence does not warrant such a strong conclusion.”

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