Free LSAT resources
Free law school admissions resources

Meaning in context (of word, phrase, or idea)

(MeanCtx)

Stems that ask us to interpret the meaning of a word, phrase, or idea given the context in which it appears.

Avg. 1.9 per section

“Which one of the following most closely expresses the author's intended meaning in using the word "initiatory" (first sentence of last paragraph)?”

Argument part
7%
15%
44%
22%
12%

Avg. difficulty: 3.2

Correct answer criteria

  • Captures author's intended meaning of the word/phrase/sentence; AND
  • Does not contain anything unsupported

Key tactics

  • Rely on low-res summary of paragraph containing the word/phrase/sentence
  • Ask about relationship of the word/phrase/sentence to paragraph containing it
  • Define referential words and phrases

Answer choice tips

  • Wrong answers often describe a meaning that's divorced from the context in which the word/phrase/sentence was used
  • Be careful about answers that merely match the dictionary definition of a word; the contextual meaning is what matters

Looking for more?

7Sage offers a full course of video lessons that cover each question type in depth, targeted drills, and performance analytics.

Logical reasoning question types

Alternate explanation Analogy (LR) Argument part Bad authority Causal chain Causal mechanism Causal reasoning Circular reasoning Conditional reasoning Confusing sufficiency and necessity Correlation Diagram? Directionally wrong Eliminating options Equivocation Evaluate Except (LR) Failed alternate explanation False dichotomy Fighting the hypothetical Fill in the blank Flaw or descriptive weakening Illusory inconsistency Inference Internal contradiction Irrelevant corroboration Kick it up Lack of support v. false conclusion Link assumption Main conclusion or main point Math Mental state v. reality Method of reasoning or descriptive Miscellaneous (LR) Misdirected response Most strongly supported Must be false Must be true Necessary assumption Parallel flawed method of reasoning Parallel method of reasoning Part v. whole Phenomenon-hypothesis (LR) Plausibility Point at issue: agree Point at issue: disagree Principle PSA - find or complete the application PSA - find the rule Quantifier Relative v. absolute Resolve reconcile or explain Rule-application Sampling Source attack Strengthen Sufficient assumption Time Unwarranted assumption Value judgment Weaken Weighing factors

Reading comprehension question types

Analogy (RC) Application Art Author’s attitude Author’s perspective Comparative Critique or debate Describe approach Describe organization Describe relationship Except (RC) Humanities Implied Law Logical continuation Main point Meaning in context (of word, phrase, or idea) Miscellaneous (RC) Other’s perspective Phenomenon-hypothesis (RC) Principle or generalization Problem-analysis Purpose in context (of word, phrase, or idea) Purpose of paragraph Purpose of passage Science Single position Spotlight Stated Structure WSE (RC)

Confirm action

Are you sure?