overt, endemic, impromptu, homogeneous, hesitant: meanings and examples

Learn these 5 words from SAT Vocabulary Level 2 set 102. Each entry includes a definition, example sentence, pronunciation, and synonyms. Use the interactive cards above to practice them.

1. overt · adjective/oʊˈvɜrt/

   open and done in public view rather than being hidden or secret

   The politician's overt racism during the debate sparked widespread outrage among the audience.

   Synonyms: open, public, transparent

   Origin: from Middle French 'overt', from Latin 'apertus', meaning 'open'.

2. endemic · adjective/ɛnˈdɛmɪk/

   native or restricted to a certain area or environment

   The island is home to several species of birds that are endemic to the region, making it a crucial site for conservation efforts.

   Synonyms: native, local, indigenous

   Origin: Derived from the Greek word 'endēmos', meaning 'in, or native to, a particular place'; from 'en' (in) + 'dēmos' (people, district).

3. impromptu · adjective/ɪmˈprɑːmptuː/

   made or done without previous preparation

   We decided to have an impromptu meeting to address the urgent issues that had arisen.

   Synonyms: unrehearsed, spontaneous, ad-lib

   Origin: from Latin 'improvisus', meaning 'unforeseen' or 'not provided beforehand'

4. homogeneous · adjective/ˌhoʊməˈdʒinɪs/

   of the same kind or nature essentially alike

   The committee was made up of a homogeneous group of experts, all with similar qualifications and backgrounds.

   Synonyms: uniform, identical, similar

   Origin: from the Greek 'homogenēs', from 'homos' meaning 'same' + 'genos' meaning 'kind' or 'race'

5. hesitant · adjective/ˈhɛzɪtənt/

   holding back or waiting to act due to uncertainty or indecision

   She felt hesitant to share her opinion during the meeting, unsure if it would be well received.

   Synonyms: reluctant, uncertain, indecisive

   Origin: The word 'hesitant' comes from the Latin 'haesitans', the present participle of 'haesitare', meaning 'to stick, to hesitate'.