This list includes 41 SAT words that start with J, from “jaded” to “juxtaposition”. These entries come from common prep lists and appear often in reading and writing contexts.
SAT words that start with J are vocabulary used frequently on college-prep exams and formal texts. For example, “juxtaposition” often appears in literary analysis and critical reading questions.
Below you’ll find the table with Word, Difficulty, Definition, and Example sentence.
Word: The vocabulary item itself, shown so you can scan and locate each term quickly during study.
Difficulty: One-word tag (easy/medium/hard) that helps you prioritize study time and focus on challenging items.
Definition: A concise, dictionary-style line that explains the word’s meaning in clear, exam-focused language.
Example sentence: A single, natural sentence showing common usage so you can see how the word appears in context.
SAT words that start with J
| Word | Part of Speech | Difficulty | Meaning | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| jaded | adj. | medium | tired or bored from excess | Describes weariness or cynicism from overexposure; she felt jaded after years of travel. |
| jaundiced | adj. | medium | biased or resentful; hostile viewpoint | Means having a cynical or unfair perspective; critics were jaundiced toward the proposal. |
| jejune | adj. | hard | uninteresting, immature, or simplistic | Describes ideas or writing that are dull or naive; the essay felt jejune and unconvincing. |
| jeopardize | v. | medium | put at risk or in danger | Common verb for risking something important; poor choices could jeopardize her scholarship. |
| jeopardy | n. | medium | danger of loss, harm, or failure | Often used in legal or general risk contexts; his job was in jeopardy after mistakes. |
| jettison | v. | medium | discard or throw away, often to lighten weight | Used literally or figuratively to mean abandon; they jettisoned outdated policies quickly. |
| jibe | v. | medium | agree or be consistent with something | Also spelled “gibe” for taunt; here it means to match or align; her data jibes with the theory. |
| jingoism | n. | hard | aggressive, chauvinistic patriotism | Describes belligerent national pride often in politics; critics warned against rising jingoism. |
| jingoistic | adj. | medium | showing aggressive patriotic support for war | Adjective form used in political commentary; his speech sounded jingoistic and bellicose. |
| jocular | adj. | medium | playful or humorous in tone | Describes joking or light-hearted behavior; his jocular remarks eased the tension. |
| jovial | adj. | easy | cheerful and friendly; good-humored | Common descriptor for a happy mood; the host remained jovial all evening. |
| jubilant | adj. | medium | extremely joyful or triumphant | Expresses strong celebration or triumph; the team was jubilant after the win. |
| jubilation | n. | medium | joyful celebration or triumph | A noun for public or personal rejoicing; jubilation filled the streets. |
| juxtapose | v. | hard | place side by side for contrast | A literary and analytical term for comparison; the artist juxtaposed light and shadow. |
| juxtaposition | n. | hard | the act of placing things side by side for contrast | Useful in analysis of texts or images; the juxtaposition revealed sharp differences. |
| judicious | adj. | medium | showing good judgment or sense | Praised in essays for sound decision-making; she made a judicious choice. |
| judicial | adj. | medium | relating to courts, judges, or the law | Common in articles about legal decisions; the ruling had judicial consequences. |
| judiciary | n. | medium | the system of courts and judges | Refers to the collective court system; the judiciary reviewed the new law. |
| jurisprudence | n. | hard | the theory or philosophy of law | Formal term in legal and academic texts; students studied comparative jurisprudence. |
| jurisdiction | n. | medium | legal authority to administer justice or control | Appears in legal and governance contexts; the court lacked jurisdiction over the case. |
| justify | v. | easy | show or prove to be right or reasonable | Frequent in essays and arguments; she could not justify her absence. |
| justification | n. | medium | a reason or explanation that defends an action | Used to support claims in writing; his justification lacked evidence. |
| juvenile | adj. / n. | medium | relating to youth; immature (as adj.) or youth (as n.) | Used in legal, social, or descriptive contexts; juvenile offenders face special courts. |
| junta | n. | medium | a group that rules after overthrowing a government | Common in political readings and history passages; the junta seized power last year. |
| jostle | v. | medium | push, shove, or crowd against roughly | Often literal or metaphorical for competition; she was jostled in the crowded train. |
| jargon | n. | medium | specialized words used by a particular group | Warned against in clear writing; the memo avoided technical jargon. |
| jaunty | adj. | medium | lively, confident, and carefree in manner | Describes gait, tone, or style; he walked with a jaunty step. |
| jeer | v. / n. | easy | mock or shout insults at someone | Common verb/noun for derision; the crowd began to jeer the referee. |
| jollity | n. | medium | lively and cheerful celebration or merriment | Literary but still common in descriptions of cheer; the party was full of jollity. |
| judgment | n. | easy | the ability to make sensible decisions; a decision given by a court | Core term in essays and law; her judgment was widely respected. |
| jury | n. | easy | a group of people who decide a legal case | Common in reading passages about trials; the jury reached a verdict. |
| justness | n. | medium | fairness or moral correctness | Used in ethical or evaluative contexts; she argued for the justness of the law. |
| justifyable* | adj. | medium | capable of being shown as reasonable or right | Used to defend actions in essays and debates; the decision seemed justifiable. |
| junior | adj. / n. | easy | lower in rank or younger; a lower-grade student | Often used in academic contexts; she is a junior at the university. |
| juncture | n. | medium | a particular point in time or condition; crisis point | Useful in narratives and analyses; at that juncture, they paused. |
| journey | n. / v. | easy | travel from one place to another; a trip | Commonly used in literal and metaphorical senses; their journey lasted three days. |
| joyous | adj. | easy | full of happiness and joy | Synonym of jubilant in tone; the crowd was joyous after the announcement. |
| jubilee | n. | medium | a special anniversary or celebration | Often used for public or formal commemorations; the city planned a jubilee. |
| juror | n. | easy | a member of a jury who decides a case | Appears in legal passages; the juror listened carefully to testimony. |
| jeopardous* | adj. | hard | dangerous or risky (rare; used in some formal texts) | Rarely used but appears in some sources to mean hazardous; the expedition was jeopardous. |
Descriptions
jaded
jaundiced
jejune
jeopardize
jeopardy
jettison
jibe
jingoism
jingoistic
jocular
jovial
jubilant
jubilation
juxtapose
juxtaposition
judicious
judicial
judiciary
jurisprudence
jurisdiction
justify
justification
juvenile
junta
jostle
jargon
jaunty
jeer
jollity
judgment
jury
justness
justifyable*
junior
juncture
journey
joyous
jubilee
juror
jeopardous*