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CLAT Vocabulary List 2027 — Top 500 Words with Usage Examples

The top 500 high-frequency words you will encounter in CLAT reading comprehension passages and vocabulary-in-context questions. Every word comes with a one-line definition and one editorial-style example sentence. Organised alphabetically in a printable, mobile-friendly PDF.

  • ✓ 500 high-frequency CLAT words
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Preview — 30 words from the list

The full PDF contains 500 words organised alphabetically. Below is a sample of 30 to show the format.

AbrogateTo formally repeal or abolish.

"The Supreme Court has the power to abrogate a law that violates fundamental rights."

AcquiesceTo accept or comply with something reluctantly but without protest.

"Parliament did not expressly repeal the provision, but it acquiesced in its non-enforcement for decades."

AmbivalentHaving mixed or contradictory feelings about something.

"The court’s ambivalent stance on reservations has produced conflicting lines of precedent."

AssiduousShowing great care and perseverance.

"An assiduous reading of the statute reveals an unintended ambiguity in the drafting."

CapriciousGiven to sudden and unaccountable changes of mood or behaviour.

"A tax demand based on capricious reasoning will be struck down as arbitrary under Article 14."

ConcomitantAccompanying or naturally associated with something.

"The right to free speech carries with it the concomitant responsibility of not inciting violence."

DeleteriousCausing harm or damage.

"Prolonged litigation has a deleterious effect on the efficiency of the commercial dispute resolution system."

EfficaciousSuccessful in producing a desired or intended result.

"Statutory remedies are considered efficacious before resorting to a writ petition."

EgregiousOutstandingly bad; shocking.

"The tribunal described the conduct as an egregious violation of natural justice principles."

ElucidateTo make something clear; to explain.

"The concurring opinion elucidates the majority’s reasoning on the proportionality test."

EquivocalOpen to more than one interpretation; ambiguous.

"The legislature’s intent was equivocal, leaving the courts to determine scope through interpretation."

EschewTo deliberately avoid.

"The court chose to eschew the constitutional question and decide the case on statutory grounds alone."

ExacerbateTo make a problem or situation worse.

"Delayed hearings exacerbate the pendency crisis in subordinate courts."

ExpedientConvenient and practical, though possibly improper.

"The authorities took the expedient course of settling the dispute rather than litigating to conclusion."

ExtenuateTo make a fault or offence seem less serious.

"The accused pleaded extenuating circumstances to seek a reduced sentence."

FastidiousVery attentive to accuracy and detail.

"The judge was fastidious in applying the rules of evidence to every piece of testimony."

FortuitousHappening by chance rather than intention.

"The discovery of the forged document was entirely fortuitous."

GermaneRelevant to a subject under consideration.

"Arguments not germane to the core constitutional issue were disregarded by the bench."

ImpugnTo dispute the truth or validity of.

"The defence impugned the credibility of the principal witness."

IncontrovertibleNot able to be denied or disputed.

"The documentary evidence was incontrovertible proof of the fraud."

InimicalTending to obstruct or harm.

"Certain trade practices were found inimical to consumer welfare."

InterlocutoryGiven provisionally during the course of legal action.

"The court granted interlocutory relief pending final disposal of the matter."

LucidExpressed clearly.

"The Chief Justice’s dissent offered a lucid explanation of the federal principle."

MagnanimousGenerous or forgiving, especially toward a rival.

"The appellate court took a magnanimous view of the procedural lapses."

MitigateTo make less severe.

"Remedial measures were introduced to mitigate the impact of the amendment."

ObfuscateTo render obscure or unclear.

"The witness’s evasive answers seemed calculated to obfuscate the investigation."

OpprobriumHarsh criticism or public disgrace.

"The law drew opprobrium from civil society for its potential chilling effect on speech."

OstensibleStated or appearing to be true, but not necessarily so.

"The ostensible purpose of the scheme was welfare, but its operation had a regressive effect."

PalliativeRelieving pain without dealing with the cause.

"The stimulus package was a palliative measure, not a structural reform."

PromulgateTo formally proclaim a law or decree.

"The ordinance was promulgated under Article 123 during the recess of Parliament."

FAQ

Is this CLAT vocabulary list really free?

Yes. Enter your name and email and the PDF link appears immediately. We use your email only to share updates to the resource.

How many words are in the CLAT vocabulary PDF?

500 words — curated from the most common academic and editorial vocabulary that appears in CLAT reading comprehension passages and vocabulary-in-context questions.

Why 500 words and not 2000?

Because return on investment collapses beyond the first 500. CLAT tests vocabulary in context, not rote recall. 500 high-frequency words give you 90%+ of the utility of a much longer list at a fraction of the study time.

Does the PDF include example sentences?

Yes. Every word comes with a one-line definition and one example sentence drawn from editorial-style prose — similar to CLAT’s passage register.

How should I use the vocabulary list?

Read 10 words per day with context sentences. Test yourself weekly. Never just memorise definitions — always practise the word in a sentence of your own. Pair the list with daily newspaper reading for maximum retention.

Is rote memorisation useful for CLAT vocabulary?

No. CLAT vocabulary questions almost always test the word’s meaning in a specific passage context, not its dictionary definition. Memorising without context produces low recall under exam conditions.

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