Home•Blog•TOEIC Vocabulary List by Topic (600+ Words)

TOEIC Vocabulary List by Topic (600+ Words)

Lume Test

Published on: September 4, 2026

TOEIC vocabulary is not general English vocabulary. Every word on the test sits in a workplace context — offices, contracts, shipping, hiring, travel, invoices, meetings. That is why generic word lists underperform here: they teach words the test never asks about and skip the ones that come back every session.

This list is grouped by the topic areas that recur across all seven parts. Each entry gives the part of speech (which is what Part 5 tests), the meaning as TOEIC uses it, and an example sentence in test register.

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Key Takeaways

TOEIC vocabulary is workplace vocabulary — 12 topic areas cover the overwhelming majority of what appears.
Part 5 tests word form as often as word meaning, so learn the noun, verb, adjective and adverb together.
Collocation matters more than isolated meaning: “meet a deadline”, not “reach a deadline”.
The Listening parts reuse the same vocabulary as Reading, so one list serves both sections.
Recognition is enough — TOEIC Listening and Reading never asks you to produce these words.

How to use this list

Your level	Target	Approach
Below 500	Topics 1-4	20 words per day, recognition only
500-700	Topics 1-8	25 words per day plus one sentence each
700-850	All 12 topics	Focus on word families and collocations
850+	Topics 9-12 plus collocations	Low-frequency words and near-synonym pairs

Topic 1: Office and administration

Word	Part of speech	Meaning in TOEIC context	Example
agenda	noun	List of items for a meeting	The agenda was circulated the day before.
allocate	verb	Assign resources to a purpose	Funds were allocated to the training budget.
amend	verb	Change a document formally	The contract was amended in clause 4.
assign	verb	Give a task to someone	Ms. Park assigned the report to the interns.
attach	verb	Include a file with a message	Please find the invoice attached.
circulate	verb	Send to a group	The memo was circulated to all staff.
confidential	adjective	Not to be shared	Salary data is confidential.
deadline	noun	Latest acceptable time	We met the Friday deadline.
delegate	verb	Pass responsibility down	Managers should delegate routine tasks.
duplicate	noun / verb	A second identical copy	Keep a duplicate for your records.
extension	noun	Internal phone number; extra time	Dial extension 2140.
file	verb	Store a document in order	Please file the receipts by month.
forward	verb	Send on to another person	I forwarded your query to accounts.
itinerary	noun	Schedule for a trip	Your itinerary is in the attachment.
minutes	noun	Written record of a meeting	The minutes note two action items.
pending	adjective	Awaiting a decision	The application is still pending.
prior to	preposition	Before	Prior to the merger, we had two offices.
revise	verb	Correct and improve	The figures were revised upward.
submit	verb	Hand in formally	Submit expenses within 30 days.
vacancy	noun	An unfilled position	There are two vacancies in sales.

Topic 2: Meetings and presentations

Word	Part of speech	Meaning in TOEIC context	Example
adjourn	verb	End or pause a meeting	The board adjourned until Tuesday.
brief	verb / noun	Give essential information	She briefed the team on the change.
chair	verb / noun	Lead a meeting	Mr. Adeyemi will chair the session.
convene	verb	Bring together formally	The committee convenes monthly.
handout	noun	Printed material for attendees	Handouts are on the back table.
keynote	noun	Main speech at an event	The keynote begins at 9:00 A.M.
postpone	verb	Move to a later time	The review was postponed one week.
quorum	noun	Minimum attendance needed to decide	Without a quorum, no vote is valid.
recap	verb / noun	Summarise briefly	Let me recap the three decisions.
venue	noun	Place where an event happens	The venue holds 300 people.
attendee	noun	A person present	Attendees receive a certificate.
facilitate	verb	Make a process run smoothly	A consultant facilitated the workshop.
unanimous	adjective	Agreed by everyone	The vote was unanimous.
agenda item	noun phrase	One point to be discussed	Budget is agenda item three.
follow-up	noun / adjective	Later action on something	A follow-up call is scheduled.

Topic 3: Hiring and human resources

Word	Part of speech	Meaning in TOEIC context	Example
applicant	noun	Person applying for a job	Forty applicants were shortlisted.
appraisal	noun	Formal performance review	Annual appraisals begin in June.
benefits	noun	Non-salary compensation	Benefits include dental cover.
candidate	noun	Person considered for a role	Three candidates reached interview.
compensation	noun	Total pay package	Compensation is reviewed yearly.
credentials	noun	Qualifications and evidence	Please bring your credentials.
dismiss	verb	End an employment	He was dismissed for misconduct.
incentive	noun	Reward that motivates	A travel incentive was introduced.
onboarding	noun	Process of settling a new hire	Onboarding lasts two weeks.
payroll	noun	System that pays staff	Payroll closes on the 25th.
probation	noun	Trial employment period	Probation is three months.
promote	verb	Move to a higher position	She was promoted to director.
recruit	verb / noun	Hire new staff	We recruit twice a year.
resign	verb	Leave a job voluntarily	He resigned in April.
severance	noun	Payment on leaving	Severance equals one month per year.
shift	noun	A working period	The night shift starts at 22:00.
supervisor	noun	Direct manager	Report absences to your supervisor.
turnover	noun	Rate at which staff leave and are replaced	Turnover fell to 8 percent.
vacancy notice	noun phrase	Job advertisement	The vacancy notice closes Friday.
workforce	noun	All employees	The workforce doubled in two years.

Topic 4: Shipping, orders and inventory

Word	Part of speech	Meaning in TOEIC context	Example
backorder	noun	Order awaiting stock	The item is on backorder.
bulk	adjective / noun	In large quantity	Bulk orders receive a discount.
carrier	noun	Company that transports goods	Our carrier delivers overnight.
consignment	noun	A shipment of goods	The consignment cleared customs.
courier	noun	Fast delivery service	Send it by courier.
damaged	adjective	Harmed in transit	Two units arrived damaged.
dispatch	verb / noun	Send goods out	We dispatch within 24 hours.
freight	noun	Goods transported in bulk	Freight charges are extra.
inventory	noun	Stock held	Inventory is counted quarterly.
invoice	noun / verb	Bill for goods or services	The invoice is due in 30 days.
itemise	verb	List each item separately	Please itemise the charges.
out of stock	phrase	Not currently available	That size is out of stock.
packing slip	noun phrase	Document listing contents	Check the packing slip on arrival.
purchase order	noun phrase	Formal order document	Quote the purchase order number.
restock	verb	Replace sold stock	We restock every Monday.
shipment	noun	Goods sent together	The shipment left Rotterdam.
supplier	noun	Company that provides goods	Our supplier raised prices.
tracking number	noun phrase	Code used to follow a parcel	Your tracking number is in the email.
warehouse	noun	Building for storing goods	The warehouse closes at 17:00.
wholesale	adjective / noun	Selling in quantity to retailers	Wholesale prices apply from 50 units.

Topic 5: Finance, invoicing and accounting

Word	Part of speech	Meaning in TOEIC context	Example
audit	noun / verb	Official examination of accounts	The audit found no errors.
balance	noun	Amount remaining	Your balance is zero.
budget	noun / verb	Planned spending	The budget was cut by 5 percent.
deduct	verb	Take an amount off	Tax is deducted at source.
expenditure	noun	Money spent	Capital expenditure rose sharply.
expense	noun	A cost incurred	Travel expenses are reimbursed.
fiscal	adjective	Relating to the tax or budget year	The fiscal year ends in March.
forecast	noun / verb	Predicted figures	Sales beat the forecast.
installment	noun	One of several payments	Pay in six installments.
outstanding	adjective	Still unpaid	Two invoices remain outstanding.
overdue	adjective	Past the due date	The payment is 10 days overdue.
quote	noun / verb	Stated price	We sent a quote on Monday.
receipt	noun	Proof of payment	Keep the receipt for the claim.
reimburse	verb	Pay someone back	We reimburse mileage monthly.
revenue	noun	Income from business	Revenue grew 12 percent.
statement	noun	Summary of account activity	Your statement arrives on the 1st.
surcharge	noun	Extra charge	A fuel surcharge applies.
waive	verb	Choose not to charge	The fee was waived.
write off	phrasal verb	Cancel a debt in the books	The bad debt was written off.
yield	noun / verb	Return produced	The bond yields 3 percent.

Topic 6: Contracts and legal

Word	Part of speech	Meaning in TOEIC context	Example
binding	adjective	Legally enforceable	The agreement is binding.
breach	noun / verb	Break a contract term	Late delivery is a breach.
clause	noun	A numbered contract term	See clause 7.2.
comply	verb	Act according to a rule	All sites comply with the code.
expire	verb	Come to an end	The licence expires in June.
indemnify	verb	Protect against loss	The vendor indemnifies the buyer.
liability	noun	Legal responsibility	Liability is capped at the fee.
negotiate	verb	Discuss in order to reach agreement	Terms were negotiated over a week.
obligation	noun	Something you must do	Payment is a contractual obligation.
provision	noun	A contract arrangement	A provision covers early exit.
renew	verb	Extend for a further term	The lease was renewed.
terminate	verb	End formally	Either party may terminate with notice.
void	adjective	Legally invalid	An unsigned form is void.
warranty	noun	Guarantee of quality	The warranty runs two years.
waiver	noun	Formal giving up of a right	Sign the liability waiver.

Topic 7: Travel and hotels

Word	Part of speech	Meaning in TOEIC context	Example
aisle	noun	Passage between rows of seats	I requested an aisle seat.
amenities	noun	Facilities provided	Amenities include a gym.
baggage claim	noun phrase	Where luggage is collected	Meet at baggage claim.
boarding pass	noun phrase	Document needed to board	Show your boarding pass.
check-in	noun	Registering on arrival	Check-in opens at 14:00.
complimentary	adjective	Free of charge	Breakfast is complimentary.
delayed	adjective	Later than scheduled	The flight is delayed 40 minutes.
fare	noun	Price of a journey	The return fare is cheaper.
itinerary change	noun phrase	Alteration to a trip plan	An itinerary change was emailed.
layover	noun	Wait between connecting flights	A three-hour layover in Doha.
occupancy	noun	How fully a hotel is used	Double occupancy costs more.
reservation	noun	A booking	Your reservation is confirmed.
shuttle	noun	Regular short transport service	A shuttle runs every 20 minutes.
vacate	verb	Leave a room	Please vacate by 11:00 A.M.
voucher	noun	Document exchangeable for value	A meal voucher was issued.

Topic 8: Marketing and sales

Word	Part of speech	Meaning in TOEIC context	Example
brand	noun / verb	Identity of a product	The brand was relaunched.
campaign	noun	Organised set of promotions	The campaign ran for six weeks.
clientele	noun	The customers of a business	Our clientele is mostly corporate.
demographic	noun	A defined group of people	The 25-34 demographic grew.
endorse	verb	Publicly support	An athlete endorsed the product.
launch	verb / noun	Introduce to the market	The launch is set for May.
merchandise	noun	Goods for sale	Merchandise is 20 percent off.
outlet	noun	A shop or sales channel	A new outlet opened downtown.
prospect	noun	A potential customer	Follow up with warm prospects.
retail	adjective / noun	Selling to consumers	Retail sales rose in Q3.
segment	noun / verb	A distinct part of a market	We segment by industry.
showcase	verb	Display prominently	The fair showcased new models.
testimonial	noun	A customer statement of praise	Testimonials appear on the site.
trade fair	noun phrase	Industry exhibition	We exhibit at two trade fairs.
word of mouth	noun phrase	Recommendation passed between people	Growth came from word of mouth.

Topic 9: Manufacturing, maintenance and facilities

Word	Part of speech	Meaning in TOEIC context	Example
assembly line	noun phrase	Production sequence in a factory	The assembly line was upgraded.
calibrate	verb	Adjust for accuracy	Scales are calibrated weekly.
defect	noun	A fault in a product	The defect rate fell to 0.4 percent.
downtime	noun	Period when work stops	Downtime cost two shifts.
inspect	verb	Examine closely	Inspectors check every batch.
install	verb	Put equipment in place	The unit was installed on Friday.
maintenance	noun	Work to keep things running	Maintenance is scheduled monthly.
malfunction	noun / verb	Fail to work correctly	A sensor malfunctioned.
output	noun	Amount produced	Output doubled after the upgrade.
premises	noun	Building and its land	Smoking is banned on the premises.
refurbish	verb	Renovate and modernise	The lobby was refurbished.
spare part	noun phrase	Replacement component	Spare parts are held on site.
specification	noun	Detailed technical requirement	The part meets the specification.
upgrade	verb / noun	Improve to a higher standard	The software was upgraded.
utility	noun	Service such as water or power	Utility costs rose 9 percent.

Topic 10: Technology and IT

Word	Part of speech	Meaning in TOEIC context	Example
back up	phrasal verb	Save a second copy	Back up your files nightly.
bandwidth	noun	Data capacity of a connection	Video calls use more bandwidth.
compatible	adjective	Able to work together	The driver is not compatible.
configure	verb	Set up settings	IT configured the new laptops.
database	noun	Organised store of records	The customer database was merged.
deploy	verb	Put into active use	The patch was deployed overnight.
downtime window	noun phrase	Planned period offline	The downtime window is 02:00-04:00.
glitch	noun	A minor temporary fault	A glitch delayed the report.
interface	noun	Point where systems meet	The interface was redesigned.
migrate	verb	Move data or systems	We migrate to the cloud in June.
outage	noun	Loss of service	A regional outage hit the servers.
prompt	noun / verb	On-screen request for input	Follow the prompt to reset.
retrieve	verb	Get data back	Deleted files can be retrieved.
subscription	noun	Recurring paid access	The subscription renews annually.
troubleshoot	verb	Find and fix a fault	IT troubleshot the printer.

Topic 11: Health, safety and insurance

Word	Part of speech	Meaning in TOEIC context	Example
claim	noun / verb	Formal request for payment	File the claim within 14 days.
coverage	noun	What an insurance policy includes	Coverage excludes personal items.
deductible	noun	Amount you pay before cover starts	The deductible is 200 dollars.
evacuate	verb	Leave a building for safety	Evacuate by the nearest exit.
hazard	noun	A source of danger	Wet floors are a hazard.
mandatory	adjective	Required by rule	Helmets are mandatory on site.
policy	noun	Insurance contract; company rule	Read the policy before signing.
precaution	noun	Action taken to prevent harm	Take the usual precautions.
premium	noun	Insurance payment amount	The premium rose this year.
protocol	noun	Official procedure	Follow the fire protocol.
restricted	adjective	Access limited	The area is restricted to staff.
sanitize	verb	Clean to remove germs	Surfaces are sanitized nightly.
screening	noun	Checking or testing process	Health screening is voluntary.
ventilation	noun	Air circulation	The room has poor ventilation.
waiting period	noun phrase	Time before a benefit begins	There is a 30-day waiting period.

Topic 12: Property, leases and construction

Word	Part of speech	Meaning in TOEIC context	Example
appraise	verb	Estimate value	The building was appraised at 4 million.
commercial	adjective	For business use	Commercial rents are rising.
deposit	noun	Money held as security	A one-month deposit is required.
landlord	noun	Owner who rents property out	The landlord approved the change.
lease	noun / verb	Rental contract	The lease runs five years.
occupant	noun	Person using a space	Occupants must register vehicles.
renovation	noun	Repair and improvement work	Renovation begins in autumn.
sublet	verb	Rent to a third party	Subletting requires consent.
tenant	noun	Person who rents	Tenants receive a parking pass.
vacant	adjective	Empty and available	Two floors are vacant.
zoning	noun	Rules on land use	Zoning prohibits retail here.
blueprint	noun	Technical plan drawing	The blueprint shows two exits.
contractor	noun	Company hired to do work	The contractor starts Monday.
permit	noun / verb	Official permission	A building permit is pending.
square footage	noun phrase	Floor area measurement	The unit has 1,200 square feet.

Word families you must learn as a set (Part 5 tests this)

Part 5 frequently gives you one word and four forms of it. The blank is decided by grammar, not meaning.

Verb	Noun	Adjective	Adverb
analyse	analysis / analyst	analytical	analytically
compete	competition / competitor	competitive	competitively
comply	compliance	compliant	—
conclude	conclusion	conclusive	conclusively
consider	consideration	considerable	considerably
employ	employment / employee / employer	employable	—
expand	expansion	expansive	—
inform	information	informative	informatively
maintain	maintenance	maintainable	—
produce	production / product / producer	productive	productively
reside	residence / resident	residential	—
succeed	success	successful	successfully

Near-synonym pairs TOEIC tests

Pair	Difference	Correct use
employ / hire	employ is ongoing, hire is the act	We hired 12 people; we employ 400.
price / cost / fee / charge	fee is for a service, charge is added	A late fee; a delivery charge.
raise / rise	raise takes an object, rise does not	Prices rose. They raised prices.
economic / economical	economic = of the economy; economical = cheap to run	An economical car; economic growth.
respectful / respective	respective = belonging to each	Return to your respective desks.
assure / ensure / insure	assure a person, ensure a result, insure property	Ensure the door is locked.
affect / effect	affect is the verb, effect the noun	The delay affected sales. It had an effect.
continual / continuous	continual = repeated; continuous = unbroken	Continuous operation; continual complaints.

A 4-week schedule for this list

Week	Topics	Daily task	Weekend check
1	1, 2, 3	25 new words, cover the meaning column and test yourself	Write 10 sentences using new words
2	4, 5, 6	25 new words plus 10 from week 1	Do a Part 5 set and mark vocabulary errors
3	7, 8, 9	25 new words plus 10 review	Do a Part 7 set and note unknown words
4	10, 11, 12 plus word families	25 new words plus word-family drills	Full Reading section under time

Recognition is enough for the Listening and Reading test — you never have to produce these words. Test yourself by covering the meaning column, not by writing definitions.

FAQ

How many words do I need for TOEIC?

For 700+, around 3,000 to 4,000 word families with strong coverage of the workplace topics on this page. Raw count matters less than topic fit: 1,000 well-chosen business words beat 4,000 general ones.

Should I learn definitions or example sentences?

Sentences. TOEIC vocabulary questions are always context questions — Part 5 asks which form fits the grammar, and Part 7 asks what a word means in that specific line. A definition alone answers neither.

Does TOEIC repeat vocabulary between test sessions?

The passages change but the topic areas do not. Invoices, deliveries, appraisals, room bookings and maintenance notices appear on essentially every form of the test, so the vocabulary set is stable even when the questions are new.

Is British or American vocabulary used?

Both. TOEIC uses American, British, Canadian and Australian speakers in the Listening section and mixes spelling conventions in Reading, so recognise both “organise” and “organize”.

How long does this list take to learn?

At 25 words a day, the 12 topics take about four weeks with review built in. The 4-week schedule at the end of this page sets that out day by day.

Related practice resources