Can You Pick the Word That Matches the Given Category?

By: Beth Hendricks
Estimated Completion Time
4 min
Can You Pick the Word That Matches the Given Category?
Image: Tara Moore / Stone / Getty Images

About This Quiz

Did you know that the number of words you recognize from the age of 1 to the age of 3 grows by 1,900 percent? And from age 3 to age 5, it increases another 900%? Of course, you'd expect that in the formative years, right? That's the time when you're learning all about the world around you and eating knowledge for breakfast! (OK, not literally.) Teachers and parents help kiddos learn all of these words by using categories — you know, learning your colors, your letters and numbers, animals, shapes and so forth.

But, as we get older, the learning doesn't stop. Scientists believe that even adults learn at the rate of one new word every single day. By the time we reach 60, our vocabulary reaches approximately 48,000 words — a 95,900 percent increase from when we're just barely toddling around. The thing is, as adults, we don't really learn words by category, although we certainly should be able to categorize them once they're part of our vernacular. 

So, let's throw it back to our childhood days. See how many of these categories you know by matching the words that belong to them. Which is an animal? A food? A musical instrument? A germ? (Kidding on the last one.) It is categorically impossible not to have fun with this one!



Earwig
Vengolis via WikiCommons
Creepy crawlies! Which one of these winged things falls in the "insect" category?
Cerulean
Earwig
Humerus
Serpentine
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

It might sound like a body part, but an earwig is actually a terrifying little insect equipped with both wings and pincers. Luckily, earwigs are not considered dangerous or venomous, but we'd like to avoid them just the same.

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Arugula
Missvain via WikiCommons
Looking for a new vegetable to add to your salad? You might try this one, a member of the "veggie" category. What is its name?
Mien
Cherimoya
Arugula
Bibble
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Arugula, known for its peppery or slightly bitter flavor, is a member of the mustard green family. For us, arugula pairs best with a light coating of olive oil, lemon, seasoning and a cheese such as parmesan. Yum!

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Crash Bandicoot
Beenox / Activision
You might recognize this guy from a video game, but he is an "animal" in real life. Which one is it?
Banshee
Bugbane
Bandicoot
Boondock
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Have you ever heard of Crash Bandicoot? No worries if you haven't. He was the title character of a series of video games first released in 1996. "Bandicoot" might sound like a nonsense word, but it's an actual marsupial native to Australia and New Guinea.

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Castanets
Sofi Sykfont - Musikverket via WikiCommons
If you wanted to take up a musical instrument, you might opt for one of these. Which one is considered a "musical instrument?"
Dapper
Castanets
Lathe
Solarium
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Not only are castanets considered musical instruments, but they're also part of everyone's favorite instrument category: percussion! Castanets are a member of the clapper family and are often featured in Italian and Spanish tunes.

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Lathe
Greudin via WikiCommons
This member of the "tool" category is a machine used to shape materials such as metal or wood. What is it called?
Dearth
Allen wrench
Domicile
Lathe
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Let's face it — you're probably not going to have a lathe in your garage (although that would be cool). A lathe is frequently used by those in woodworking or metalworking to help shape pieces of material accordingly.

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Lychee
Mamun2a via WikiCommons
At first glance, this fruit might resemble a strawberry. Which of these is a "fruit" from the soapberry family?
Rebus
Endive
Hominy
Lychee
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The outside of the lychee, native to areas of China, resembles a strawberry; however, its taste is more reminiscent of citrus with floral notes. Lychee is a member of the soapberry (yes, soap!) family.

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Mustang coupe
Unsplash by Oleksii S
The Beach Boys sang about a "little deuce" one of these, a member of the "car" category that features two doors and a rear roofline that slants downward. What word are we looking for?
Brawn
Sedan
Coupe
Vassal
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

"Little deuce coupe/You don't know what I got" are the first lines from the Beach Boys song, "Little Deuce Coupe." In the automotive world, a coupe simply denotes a two-door vehicle that's rear window slopes downward, such as on a Mustang.

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Sculling
Unsplash by Matthew Fournier
Two oars in the water propelling a boat forward is known in the sports world (and our "sports" category) as which of these?
Pinging
Addling
Hooping
Sculling
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

If you're in a boat moving forward through the water with two oars, that is known in the sporting world as "sculling." To take it a step further, the boat — and even the oars themselves — may be referred to as sculls.

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Tobbogan
Ariel Skelley / DigitalVision / Getty Images
Sledding is never more fun than on one of these. Which one would fall into the "toy" category?
Dulcet
Flotilla
Toboggan
Ornithopter
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

In certain parts of the country, a "toboggan" is considered a hat (no, really!) But for this quiz, we're using the word "toboggan" as it is known in many other parts of the world, as a narrow sled used for gliding down snow-covered hills.

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Celadon Chinese Tea Pots
TongRo Images Inc / TongRo Images / Getty Images
The name of this color is derived from a type of Chinese ceramic. Which of these green shades lives in our "color" category?
Bouillon
Celadon
Coquelicot
Gamboge
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The word "celadon" originated in China as early as the 10th century, when potters used celadon to glaze their wares. The glaze earned the name celadon, which we also associate today with a pale green shade.

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Nimbus Clouds
Liu Dyson via WikiCommons
You might want to grab a jacket for this one! Which of these terms fits into a "weather" category?
Nimbus
Aria
Didactic
Salient
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

It might sound like a derogatory comment at first, but the word "nimbus" actually refers to a type of cloud. Nimbus clouds are the ones that appear when precipitation such as rain or snow falls to the ground.

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Periodic table
Cepheus via WikiCommons
Do you remember the periodic table of elements from science class? Which of these words belongs in our "scientific elements?"
Peremptory
Antimony
Polysaccharide
Halcyon
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Antimony is, in fact, not what happens when two people exchange vows (that's matrimony). Antimony is, however, an element with the atomic number 51 and the symbol Sb. This element was discovered as far back as 1600 B.C.

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Frond
Zen Rial / Moment / Getty Images
This "plant" term represents the green leaves we associate with ferns or palm trees. What is it called?
Staid
Frond
Haplorhine
Doggerel
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The term "frond" sounds pretty fancy. Yet, it merely means the leaves from a plant such as a fern or a palm. Fronds, specifically, are leaves that appear to be divided down the center. (You're looking up a fern frond right now, aren't you?)

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The Pentagon
mariordo59 via WikiCommons
It's not just the name of a building near Washington, D.C. It's also the name of a "shape." What is it?
Balbis
Pentagon
Squircle
Gorgon
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Ever wondered how the Pentagon got its name? Look at it from an aerial view, and you'll notice it's a building with five sides, just like the geometric shape by the same name. Fun fact — the Pentagon was originally intended for a different parcel of land that required that shape but retained the shape once the location was moved.

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Rotisserie
Joe Schneid, Louisville, KY via WikiCommons
There are a lot of gadgets and appliances you might consider "household items." Which of these terms represents something you might find in a household?
Coiffure
Aglet
Rotisserie
Glabella
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Admit it: That rotisserie chicken at Walmart gets you every time. Did you know you can buy your own rotisserie to have at home? A rotisserie is sort of like an oven with a rotating interior piece that helps whatever's inside be evenly cooked.

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Dram
Steve McCrea via YouTube
This unit of measurement is actually smaller than a teaspoon. Which of these words fits our "measurements" category?
Candela
Lode
Rubric
Dram
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

A "dram" is a unit of measurement you probably don't hear about frequently, mostly because it's so small. A dram is considered one-eighth of an ounce, which isn't much to drink ... or do anything with, really.

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Small Intestine
Tixe Schooling via YouTube
You'll find this term in our "organs" category, as well as in your small intestine. What word are we talking about?
Duodenum
Dais
Axilla
Hallux
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The duodenum is part of the small intestine, tasked with chemical digestion that allows nutrients to be absorbed by the small intestine. You can't actually see this body part, but trust us, it's there.

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Man in jacket
massimo colombo / Moment / Getty Images
If you live in a particularly cold region of the world, you'll probably want one of these, a member of our "clothing" category. What is it?
Cockade
Ruff
Anorak
Tippet
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

OK, you got us. An "anorak" is just a fancier way of saying "jacket." The word is believed to derive from Greenland Eskimos, who called this warm, waterproof gear an "anoraq." You can call it a jacket, though ... we don't mind.

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man in suit
Morsa Images / Stone / Getty Images
A Brit hired to live in Israel and represent the British government is known by this job title (also part of our "jobs" category)?
Consul
Chiffonier
Dilettante
Alnager
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

You've heard of a consulate, right? If you're an American traveling in Germany and run into a problem, you might choose to visit the American consul in Munich. Consuls are government-appointed representatives of a country inside another country.

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Aster Flower
© Debi Dalio / Moment / Getty Images
This member of our "flower" category was named in honor of a Greek goddess who cried tears that turned into star-shaped flowers. What word are we looking for?
Baobab
Aster
Rafflesia
Egret
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

"Aster" is a star-shaped flower, named in honor of the Greek goddess, Astraea. According to legend, Astraea was upset and cried tears that turned into star-shaped flowers once her tears hit the earth. That's how the aster got its name!

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Overworked
Thomas Barwick / Stone / Getty Images
If you're feeling overworked or harassed on the job, you might be feeling this emotion. Which word belongs in our "emotions" category?
Harried
Derelict
Pendulous
Aquiline
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

We've likely all felt harried at some point. You know the feeling — rushed, harassed, overworked, (underpaid?), stressed out! You might feel harried, for example, if you're given a new project just before 5 p.m. that's due tomorrow. Yikes.

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Frontispiece
H.-P.Haack via WikiCommons
The "book" category may be one of our faves. What is an illustration in a book before the title page called?
Aspersion
Edifice
Frontispiece
Subaltern
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Have you ever seen an illustration near the front of a book, opposite its title page? Did you know that actually has a name? The "frontispiece" appears on the left side of a spread, while the book's title appears on the right.

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decopage
patioelf via YouTube
This hobby involves gluing small bits of colored paper in patterns. Which of these fits our "hobbies" category?
Machination
Simper
Decoupage
Inchoate
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The hobby known as "decoupage" comes from the French word “decouper,” which means "to cut." People who like to decoupage channel their inner kindergartner, with loads of colored paper and plenty of glue. Hey, we're not judging!

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Paprika
Ljiljana Sundać via WikiCommons
Which of these, derived from bell peppers, falls into our veritable "spice" rack, er, category?
Moribund
Tripe
Paprika
Balut
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Paprika is a blend of sweet and spicy notes, which is perfect since it's derived from bell or sweet peppers. You'll recognize this spice as red in color, with health benefits in the form of vitamin A and capsaicin.

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Italian Damask
Brian0918 via WikiCommons
It's BOGO! This member of the "fabric" category is a textile that's patterned on both sides. What is it known as?
Damask
Jacquard
Credence
Frieze
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Damask fabric is reversible, which makes it a versatile textile for things like table linens or window treatments. The word "damask" comes from the town of Damascus, where the fabric was first created.

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Armoire
Tylwyth Eldar via WikiCommons
You can use this item in the "furniture" category to store clothing or jewelry. What is it called?
Austere
Bergere
Dulcet
Armoire
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

An armoire is a piece of furniture similar to a wardrobe and used for storing clothes. Original armoires were tall cabinets, often with a hanging rod inside to help keep your clothes nice and neat.

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Espadrilles
Enfo via WikiCommons
Take a walk through our "shoe" category and identify this footwear noted for its rope soles. Which word represents this shoe?
Auspices
Espadrilles
Spangles
Anodynes
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Espadrilles are casual shoes noted for their rope-based soles. You've probably seen them most recently in a wedge style. The term "espadrille" is derived from "esparto," the type of role used in its making.

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Wassail
xoxo cooks via YouTube
Drink up! Which of these drinks, in our "beverage" category, is most often associated with Christmastime?
Wassail
Muster
Avarice
Gimlet
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The hot mulled cider beverage known as wassail is frequently associated with the feel-good holiday season. The name of the drink itself came from the act of "wassailing," a "good luck" ritual for the next year's apple harvest.

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Plateaus
Shadowmeld Photography via WikiCommons
If you find yourself standing on a flat, elevated piece of land, you might call it by this "geographic" category word. What is it?
Peninsula
Saturnine
Plateau
Zenith
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

You sometimes think of a plateau as a time in your life when things are neither moving forward or backward, but there's also a geographic element here. Plateaus are elevated, level tracts of land that appear all over the globe.

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Geometry
Zoonar RF / Zoonar / Getty Images Plus / Getty Images
We hate to bring math into the equation, but do you know which of these "math" category words represents "the length of the adjacent side divided by the length of the hypotenuse?"
Accede
Cosine
Ellipsis
Isosceles
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

We don't claim to know much about math; in fact, we prefer words. But, a "math" category is a good one to include since we use it often in our daily lives. Maybe not the "cosine" equation, necessarily, but if you're ever on "Jeopardy!" perhaps you'll remember this.

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Wheelchair
WALTER ZERLA / Cultura / Getty Images
This medical condition might come as the result of a stroke or a motor vehicle accident. Which "medical" category word is it?
Obdormition
Paralysis
Enuresis
Sternutate
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Paralysis is the loss of muscle movement in some part of your body. It can be one of the early signs of a stroke or come as the result of an accident, such as a wreck or an injury while playing sports.

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Galileo Galelei
National Maritime Museum via WikiCommons
Galileo Galilei devised the "theory of ________," part of our "astronomy" category. Which word fills the blank?
Inertia
Ephemeris
Mastication
Faculae
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Galileo Galilei's theory of inertia was that an object in motion will remain in motion until acted upon by an outside force. Isaac Newton later refined the theory into what we know today as his first law of motion.

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Using computer
Unsplash by Shivam Gandhi
We know you've had to distinguish yourself as human by completing one of these. What word belongs in our "computing" category?
Lossy
Grok
Dox
Captcha
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Captcha with pictures, math equations or simple checkboxes — we've seen it all. These online tools allow websites to determine whether you're a human or a computer ...and we certainly hope if you're reading this, you're ALL human!

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Recession
Witthaya Prasongsin / Moment / Getty Images
Brush up on our "finance" category: When economic decline sweeps across a country, it is known as what?
Recession
Deflation
Appreciation
Annuitization
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

You probably hear the word "recession" tossed around on the news or in newspapers from time to time. A recession is nothing more than a decline in economic activity, which can cause consumers to stop spending and businesses from becoming more wary.

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Biovauc
Abe Lincoln via WikiCommons
You've probably been camping, but never like this. Which "military" category term refers to a makeshift shelter without any covering?
Gadfly
Bivouac
Sleight
Canon
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

A "bivouac," pronounced Biv-Whack, is a makeshift campsite typically set up by soldiers that usually does not include any roof or covering. Think of it like a temporary military camp, derived from the German word "beiwacht."

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You Got:
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Tara Moore / Stone / Getty Images