HESI A2 vocabulary practice questions
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- 10 free questions here
- questions on the exam
- 55 questions on the exam
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- last updated
- October 2026 last updated
Ten free HESI A2 vocabulary practice questions are below, each with an explanation. The vocabulary section has 55 questions on words you will meet in health care: general English words used on the ward, common medical terms, word roots, prefixes and suffixes, synonyms and antonyms, and choosing the meaning a word has in a given sentence.
Vocabulary and General Knowledge
10 free vocabulary questions
Answer, check, and read the explanation before you move on.
HESI A2 Vocabulary
Question 1 of 10
In health care, "microbes" are best described as tiny organisms such as which of the following?
Not quite. The answer is C
Key takeaway
Microbes are tiny organisms such as bacteria, parasites and fungi. B cells and T cells are immune cells that defend against them.
Arthropathy, built from arthr, o and -pathy, means which of the following?
Not quite. The answer is C
Key takeaway
Arthr means joint and -pathy means disease, so arthropathy is disease of a joint. Inflammation of a joint would need the suffix -itis.
A passage says "Unlike community-acquired infections, nosocomial infections spread within hospital settings." What does "nosocomial" mean?
Not quite. The answer is A
Key takeaway
"Unlike" signals a contrast with community-acquired infections, so nosocomial refers to infections acquired in hospitals. Ignoring the contrast signal could lead to the opposite answer.
When defining a medical term from its word parts, which part is normally defined first?
Not quite. The answer is B
Key takeaway
The usual method is to begin the definition with the suffix, then the prefix if present, then the root. For tonsillitis you start with -itis, inflammation, then say of the tonsils.
Lethargic and tired are near-synonyms. How do the two words mainly differ?
Not quite. The answer is B
Key takeaway
Near-synonyms share a core meaning but differ in intensity. Lethargic suggests a deeper sluggishness or drowsiness than ordinary tiredness.
Which of the following is an example of a symptom rather than a sign?
Not quite. The answer is A
Key takeaway
A symptom can only be experienced and reported by the affected person, as with a stomachache. The other three are measurable by someone else, so they are signs.
Which medical term is an acronym formed from initial letters and pronounced as a word?
Not quite. The answer is D
Key takeaway
AIDS comes from acquired immunodeficiency syndrome and is spoken as a word. Parkinson's disease is an eponym, and the others are built from Greek or Latin parts.
A passage reports a resting heart rate of only 45 beats per minute and calls it "bradycardia." What does the term mean?
Not quite. The answer is A
Key takeaway
Brady- means slow and -cardia refers to the heart, and 45 is below the normal range of 60 to 100. Context, word parts and the normal range all agree.
A drug described as antipyretic works against fever. What does the prefix anti- mean?
Not quite. The answer is B
Key takeaway
anti- means against. Ante- sounds similar but means before.
Exacerbation of a patient's condition refers to which of the following?
Not quite. The answer is D
Key takeaway
Exacerbation is the noun form describing the act of worsening. It comes from exacerbate, to make worse.
Coverage
What HESI A2 vocabulary covers
The topics our practice questions for this section are written to.
- Define general English vocabulary words used in health care settings
- Define common health care and medical terms
- Use context to choose the best meaning of a word
- Recognize common medical prefixes, suffixes and roots
- Recognize synonyms and antonyms of commonly tested words
Tips
How to score higher on vocabulary
- Learn word parts, not word lists. Knowing brady-, tachy-, -itis and -ectomy unlocks hundreds of terms.
- Define a medical term from its suffix first, then the prefix and root.
- When a sentence gives a contrast ("unlike", "but"), the answer is often the opposite of the other half.
- Many tested words describe a patient's state: lethargic, exacerbation, ameliorate, impending.
FAQ
HESI A2 vocabulary FAQ
How many questions are on the HESI A2 vocabulary section?
The vocabulary section has 55 questions.
What words are on the HESI A2 vocabulary test?
General English words common in health care settings and basic medical terms. Many can be worked out from their prefix, root and suffix.
What is the fastest way to study HESI A2 vocabulary?
Learn the common medical prefixes, roots and suffixes, then practise questions so you see the words used in a sentence.
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