Words starting with H

333 words from the Lexfall vocabulary, each with a definition and an example sentence.

habeas corpus A judicial remedy requiring that a detained person be brought before a court to test the...
habendum The clause in a conveyance defining the estate or interest granted, traditionally the 'to...
habituation The patterns of habit and routine that organise a person's daily occupations and roles.
hackathon An intensive event where developers collaborate to build a working prototype in a short...
hackneyed Overused to the point of being unoriginal and stale.
haecceity The individuating property that makes a thing uniquely this particular thing and no other.
haemarthrosis Bleeding into a joint cavity, a hallmark of severe haemophilia that can lead to...
haematemesis The vomiting of blood, whether fresh and red or altered to a coffee-ground appearance by...
haematochezia The passage of fresh, bright red blood per rectum, usually indicating lower...
haematocrit The proportion of blood volume made up of red cells, expressed as a percentage or...
haematogenous Originating in or spread through the bloodstream.
haematoma A localised collection of blood outside the vessels, forming a swelling within the...
haematopoiesis The formation and maturation of all cellular blood components from haematopoietic stem...
haematuria The presence of blood in the urine.
haemochromatosis A disorder of progressive iron overload, most commonly inherited, causing tissue damage...
haemodialysis A technique of blood purification in which solutes are cleared across a semipermeable...
haemodynamically In relation to the flow of blood and circulatory stability.
haemofiltration A continuous renal replacement technique that removes solutes and water by convective...
haemoglobinopathy Any genetic disorder arising from a structural abnormality of the haemoglobin molecule.
haemoglobinuria The presence of free haemoglobin in the urine, arising from marked intravascular...
haemolyse To cause red blood cells to rupture and release their contents.
haemolysed Describing a sample in which red cells have ruptured and released their contents into the...
haemolysin A substance produced by microbes that lyses red blood cells.
haemolysis The premature destruction of red blood cells, whether within the circulation or in the...
haemolytic Relating to or causing the destruction of red blood cells.
haemophilia An X-linked bleeding disorder caused by deficiency of clotting factor VIII or IX.
haemoptysis The coughing up of blood or blood-stained sputum from the airways.
haemorrhage Rapid or excessive loss of blood from a damaged vessel, either externally or internally.
haemorrhagic stroke A stroke caused by bleeding into or around the brain when a blood vessel ruptures.
haemosiderin An insoluble aggregate of iron and protein deposited in tissues as a store of iron,...
haemostasis The arrest of bleeding, whether physiological or achieved by endoscopic or surgical...
haemostat A clamp-like instrument used to grip a bleeding vessel and hold it until it can be tied...
haemothorax An accumulation of blood within the pleural cavity, commonly following chest trauma.
haggle To bargain persistently, especially over price or terms.
Hague-Visby Rules An international regime governing carriers' rights and liabilities under bills of lading,...
haircut A reduction applied to the value of collateral or the amount a creditor is repaid.
hairline fracture A thin, incomplete crack in a bone that may not be visible on initial imaging.
halcyon Idyllically calm, peaceful and happy.
half-life The time taken for a drug’s concentration to fall by half.
halitosis Offensive or malodorous breath, commonly arising from volatile sulphur compounds produced...
hallmark A distinctive feature that reliably identifies something's origin or quality.
hallowed Regarded as holy, sacred, or deeply revered.
hallucination A sensory perception experienced without any external stimulus, most commonly auditory in...
hallux The medical term for the big toe.
halo effect The tendency for one strong positive impression to color judgment of everything else...
ham-fisted Clumsy and lacking in skill or delicacy.
hamartia The fatal flaw or error of judgement that precipitates a tragic hero's downfall.
hand hygiene The cleaning of hands with soap and water or alcohol gel to interrupt transmission of...
hand in one's notice To formally tell an employer that one intends to leave the job.
hand over To formally transfer responsibility for a patient's care to another clinician, together...
handle objections To respond to a prospect's concerns in a way that keeps the deal moving forward.
handoff The structured transfer of responsibility and clinical information about a patient from...
handover The structured transfer of clinical information and responsibility when a patient moves...
hands-off Describing a management style that avoids close supervision and grants wide autonomy.
happy ears A rep's tendency to hear buying signals that aren't really there and inflate a deal's...
haptoglobin A plasma protein that binds free haemoglobin, whose depletion serves as a sensitive...
harangue A lengthy and aggressive speech intended to persuade or berate.
harassment Unwanted conduct related to a protected characteristic that violates a person's dignity...
harbinger A person or thing that signals the approach of another.
hard currency A currency widely trusted and freely convertible that is expected to hold its value.
hard deadline A fixed date that cannot be moved, often tied to a regulatory or contractual obligation.
hard-look review A searching form of scrutiny requiring a decision-maker to have genuinely engaged with...
hardball An aggressive, uncompromising negotiating stance.
hardship Serious difficulty in meeting basic financial needs.
hardship clause A term allowing renegotiation or relief where unforeseen events make performance...
harmonisation The alignment of national laws to a common Union standard.
haulage The commercial transport of goods by road, or the charge made for it.
haulier A company or person whose business is transporting goods by road.
having regard to Taking into account or giving due consideration to specified factors when reaching a...
hawala An informal system of transferring money across borders through a network of brokers...
hawkish Favouring higher interest rates and tighter policy to curb inflation.
hazard A source of potential danger or harm.
hazard pay Additional wages given for work that involves danger or unusually harsh conditions.
hazardous Involving a risk of harm or danger.
HbA1c A blood test reflecting average blood glucose control over the preceding two to three...
head circumference The measurement around the widest part of an infant's head, used to monitor brain growth.
head start An advantage gained by beginning an activity before competitors do.
headcount The total number of people employed in an organisation or team at a given time.
headhunt To identify and approach a skilled individual, usually already employed elsewhere, to...
headhunter A recruiter who identifies and approaches candidates already employed elsewhere.
headline inflation The total inflation figure covering all goods and services, including volatile items like...
headline rent The nominal rent stated in a lease before deducting incentives such as rent-free periods.
headroom The margin between a company's current position and its financial or covenant limits.
heads of loss The distinct categories under which items of loss are claimed.
heads of terms A preliminary summary of the principal terms agreed in outline before a formal contract.
heads-up An advance warning or notice that gives someone time to prepare.
headwind A force or condition working against progress.
health visitor A qualified nurse who supports families with the health and development of children under...
hearsay Second-hand evidence the witness did not directly perceive.
hearsay notice A formal notice served on the other party of an intention to rely on hearsay evidence,...
heart attack The everyday term for a myocardial infarction, when part of the heart muscle is damaged...
heart murmur An abnormal sound heard on auscultation caused by turbulent blood flow through the heart...
heartburn A burning sensation rising behind the breastbone caused by acid refluxing into the...
hedge To offset the risk of a loss with a counter-position.
hedger A market participant who trades to reduce an existing risk rather than to profit from...
hedging The use of cautious language such as modal verbs and qualifiers to soften claims and...
hedonic Relating to the valuation of a good by decomposing its price into the worth of its...
hedonic damages Compensation for the lost enjoyment and pleasures of life following a serious injury.
hedonism The doctrine that pleasure is the highest good and proper aim of human life.
heedless Showing careless disregard for consequences or danger.
hegemon A single company or power that dominates its sector.
hegemonic Relating to the dominance of one group, ideology or state over others.
hegemony Leadership or dominance of one group over others.
heifer A young female cow that has not yet had a calf.
heijunka Leveling production volume and mix over time to smooth the swings that demand imposes on...
helicobacter pylori A bacterium that colonises the stomach lining and is a major cause of peptic ulcers and...
hell or high water clause A provision obliging a party to keep paying regardless of any difficulty, defence, or...
helm To lead or direct an organisation or effort.
hemianopia Loss of vision in one half of the visual field of one or both eyes, typically from a...
hemiballismus A movement disorder of violent, flinging involuntary movements affecting one side of the...
hemicolectomy Surgical removal of one side of the colon.
hemiparesis Weakness rather than complete paralysis affecting one side of the body.
hemiplegia Complete paralysis of one side of the body, commonly following a stroke.
henceforth From this time forward.
Henry VIII clause A statutory provision empowering ministers to amend or repeal primary legislation by...
hepatomegaly Enlargement of the liver, usually found on abdominal palpation.
hepatosplenomegaly Simultaneous enlargement of both the liver and the spleen.
hepatotoxic Damaging or poisonous to the liver.
hepcidin A hepatic peptide hormone that is the master regulator of iron homeostasis by controlling...
herding The tendency of individuals to mimic the actions of a larger group rather than act on...
hereby By means of this document or statement.
hereditament Any form of property capable of being inherited.
herein In this document or clause, used to point to something contained within the instrument...
hereinafter In a later part of this document; used to introduce a defined term or reference.
hereinbefore In a previous part of this document.
hereof Of this document or clause, used to refer back to the instrument or a part of it.
hereto To this document or matter.
hereunder Under or in accordance with the terms of this document, used to refer to rights or...
herewith With this document or communication.
hermeneutics The theory and methodology of interpretation, especially of texts and meaning.
hermetic Sealed off so as to be impervious, or protected from outside knowledge.
herniorrhaphy The surgical repair of a hernia, usually by reducing the contents and reinforcing the...
hesitant Slow to act or speak because of uncertainty or nervousness.
heterogeneity The quality of being made up of markedly different or varied elements.
heterophoria A latent tendency of the eyes to deviate that is controlled by binocular fusion.
heteroscedasticity The condition in which the variability of a model's errors is unequal across the range of...
heuristic A practical rule of thumb that aids problem-solving without guaranteeing a correct result.
hibernal Of or belonging to winter.
hibernation A state of reversibly depressed myocardial function caused by chronically reduced blood...
hidradenitis A chronic inflammatory disorder of apocrine-gland-bearing skin producing recurrent...
hierarchical Organised according to ranks of authority, each level above another.
hierarchy A system in which people or groups are ranked one above another by authority or status.
high-flow oxygen Oxygen delivered at a high rate through a non-rebreather mask to a critically ill patient.
high-level Describing an overview that covers the main points without going into detail.
high-minded Governed by elevated moral principles and noble ideals.
high performer An employee who consistently delivers well above expectations.
high-potential Describing an employee judged capable of rising to significantly more senior roles.
high-water mark The peak value a fund must exceed before a manager can charge performance fees again.
highball To open with an inflated figure well above what one expects to settle at.
hilum The depression on the medial surface of each lung where the bronchi, vessels and nerves...
hinder To make it more difficult for someone to do something or for something to progress.
hindsight The impermissible use of knowledge of an invention to make it look obvious when...
hindsight bias The tendency, after an event, to see it as having been predictable all along.
hinterland The remote or less-developed areas lying inland from a coast or city.
hiraeth A homesickness for a home you cannot return to, or that never quite existed.
hirsutism Excessive growth of coarse, male-pattern hair in a woman.
histiocytosis A disorder marked by abnormal proliferation of histiocytes in tissues.
histogram A chart showing the frequency distribution of a variable across intervals.
histopathology The microscopic examination of tissue to study the manifestations of disease.
history of presenting complaint The detailed account of how the current symptom developed over time, including its onset,...
history of the present illness The full story of how the current problem developed.
histrionic Excessively theatrical or dramatic in character or manner.
hit a milestone To reach a planned project checkpoint on or ahead of schedule.
hit quota To reach or exceed the sales target set for a period.
hitherto Until the present time, used to describe the state of knowledge before a new contribution.
hive-down The transfer of a trade into a fresh subsidiary, often to prepare it for sale.
hive-up The transfer of a subsidiary's business or assets upward to its parent company.
hoarseness A rough, harsh or strained quality of the voice.
hoary Greyish-white with age, or venerable and ancient.
hobble To walk awkwardly and with difficulty, typically because of injury.
hock The joint on the hind leg of a quadruped corresponding to the human ankle.
hockey-stick Describing a growth curve that stays flat before bending sharply upward.
hoi polloi The common people or masses, usually referred to with disdain.
hoist A mechanical device used to lift and move patients who cannot bear their own weight.
holacracy A management system that distributes authority across self-organizing roles instead of a...
hold harmless To assume another party's liability so that it bears no loss.
hold out for To refuse to settle until you get a specific term or price you want.
hold someone to account To require someone to justify and answer for their performance or commitments.
hold-up problem The risk that a party who has sunk relationship-specific investment gets squeezed by a...
holdback A portion of the price withheld to cover post-closing problems.
holdco A holding company that owns stakes in operating subsidiaries but trades little itself.
holdout A creditor who refuses a consensual restructuring to extract a better individual outcome.
holdover A relief that defers a gain by transferring it to the recipient of a gifted asset.
holism The approach of analyzing systems as integrated wholes rather than as collections of...
holistic Considering the whole person, including physical, mental, social and environmental...
holographic Of a will written entirely in the testator's own hand and often valid without attesting...
home exercise programme A set of exercises a patient is instructed to carry out independently between clinic...
homicide The killing of one person by another, whether lawful or unlawful.
homogeneity The quality of consisting of parts or members that are uniform and alike.
homologate To confirm or approve a decision so as to give it legal force.
homophily The tendency of people to associate with others similar to themselves.
homoscedasticity The condition in which the variance of a model's errors stays constant across all values...
homothetic Describing preferences or production whose optimal proportions stay constant as scale...
honest concurrent use A basis for registering a mark despite an earlier similar one where both parties have...
honeycombing Clustered cystic airspaces with thick walls on CT, indicating end-stage pulmonary...
honorarium A voluntary payment made for services on which no fee is legally set.
honourable Deserving respect by adhering to principles of honesty and fair dealing.
hoodwink To deceive or trick someone into believing something false.
hope value The value attributed to land in anticipation of future planning permission or development...
hopium Irrational optimism clung to against the evidence.
hordeolum An acute, tender infection of an eyelid gland, commonly known as a stye.
horizontal effect The extent to which rights protections apply between private parties rather than only...
horizontality The extent to which human-rights obligations bind private parties as well as the state.
hormone therapy Treatment that blocks or lowers hormones that fuel the growth of certain cancers.
horse-trading Hard, pragmatic bargaining involving mutual give-and-take.
hortatory Tending or aiming to exhort; strongly urging a particular course of action.
hoshin A method of aligning an organisation's strategic goals with concrete actions at every...
hospice A facility or service providing specialist care and support for people with a terminal...
hostile witness A witness who, once called, shows antagonism to the party calling them and may then be...
hot money Volatile short-term capital that chases yield and flees at the first hint of trouble.
hot-tubbing Witness conferencing in which opposing expert witnesses give evidence concurrently and...
hotchpot The bringing of lifetime advances back into account so that an estate is divided equally...
Hounsfield unit The quantitative scale of radiodensity used on CT, calibrated so that water measures zero...
house of brands A portfolio strategy in which distinct consumer brands operate with little visible tie to...
How are you feeling? A warm, open way to check on a patient.
how much would you like to know A question that invites the patient to indicate how much detail they want before serious...
howsoever In whatever manner or by whatever means.
hub-and-spoke Describing a network in which flows are routed through a central hub before reaching...
hub-and-spoke conspiracy A cartel coordinated indirectly through a common supplier or customer acting as the hub...
hubbub A confused din of many voices or sounds.
hubris Excessive pride or self-confidence that invites downfall.
huddle A brief, focused team meeting to share situational awareness about workload, risks and...
human capital The stock of skills, knowledge, and experience that makes a worker economically...
Human Rights Act The statute that incorporates Convention rights into domestic law and requires public...
humility A modest view of one's own importance; freedom from arrogance.
hunker To squat or crouch down low, resting on the haunches.
hurdle A minimum return that must be achieved before a fund's manager earns performance rewards.
hurdle rate The minimum return a project or investment must clear to be worth funding.
husbandry The care, management and breeding of animals, including housing, feeding and general...
hustle Energetic, resourceful effort to make things happen.
hustle culture The glorification of constant work as an identity.
hybrid mismatch A cross-border arrangement exploiting divergent tax characterisations of an instrument or...
hydrocephalus An abnormal accumulation of cerebrospinal fluid within the ventricles of the brain,...
hydronephrosis Dilatation of the kidney's collecting system, usually from obstructed urine flow.
hydroureter Abnormal distension of the ureter with urine, usually due to a distal obstruction.
hylomorphism The theory that every physical thing is a compound of matter and form.
hyolaryngeal Relating to the hyoid bone and the larynx and their combined movement.
hypalgesia A decreased sensitivity to painful stimuli.
hyperacusis An abnormally heightened sensitivity to everyday sounds that others tolerate comfortably.
hyperaesthesia An abnormally heightened sensitivity to sensory stimulation of the skin.
hyperaldosteronism Excessive secretion of aldosterone, causing hypertension and potassium loss.
hyperalgesia An increased sensitivity to pain, in which a normally painful stimulus provokes an...
hyperarousal A state of heightened physiological and psychological alertness, comprising a cluster of...
hyperbilirubinaemia An abnormally high concentration of bilirubin in the blood, the biochemical basis of...
hyperbole Deliberate exaggeration used for emphasis or rhetorical effect and not meant to be taken...
hyperbolic discounting The tendency to weight immediate rewards disproportionately over larger future ones.
hypercalcaemia An abnormally high concentration of calcium in the blood.
hypercapnia An elevated partial pressure of carbon dioxide in the arterial blood, usually from...
hypercapnic Relating to or characterised by an abnormally high level of blood carbon dioxide.
hypercementosis Excessive deposition of cementum on the tooth root, often complicating extraction.
hypercholesterolaemia An abnormally high level of cholesterol in the blood.
hypercompetition A state of relentless, escalating rivalry in which every advantage is quickly neutralized.
hyperdense Appearing brighter or whiter than the surrounding tissue on a cross-sectional scan.
hyperechoic Appearing brighter than the surrounding tissue on ultrasound because it reflects more...
hyperemesis gravidarum Severe, persistent vomiting in pregnancy leading to dehydration, weight loss, and...
hyperglycaemia An abnormally raised concentration of glucose in the blood.
hypergrowth An extended phase of exceptionally rapid expansion in revenue and headcount.
hyperhidrosis Excessive sweating beyond that required for thermoregulation.
hyperinflation An extremely rapid and typically accelerating rise in prices that swiftly destroys a...
hyperinsulinaemia An abnormally high level of insulin circulating in the blood.
hyperintense Appearing bright, or of high signal, on a given MRI sequence.
hyperkalaemia An abnormally high concentration of potassium in the blood.
hyperkeratosis Thickening of the outermost horny layer of the skin through excessive keratin...
hyperkinesia An excess of involuntary, often purposeless, movement.
hyperlipidaemia An elevated concentration of lipids in the blood.
hypermetropia A refractive error in which near objects appear blurred because light focuses behind the...
hypermobility An abnormally large range of movement at a joint beyond the usual limits.
hypernasality Excessive nasal resonance during the production of vowels and voiced oral consonants.
hyperosmolar Having a higher concentration of dissolved particles than normal body fluids.
hyperosmolar hyperglycaemic state A serious complication of type 2 diabetes marked by very high glucose, severe dehydration...
hyperparathyroidism Overproduction of parathyroid hormone, typically from a parathyroid adenoma.
hyperpathia An exaggerated and prolonged painful reaction to a stimulus, especially a repetitive one.
hyperplasia An increase in tissue size owing to a rise in the number of its constituent cells.
hyperpnoea An increase in the depth of breathing, with or without an increase in rate.
hyperreflexia An exaggeration of the deep tendon reflexes, typically indicating an upper motor neurone...
hyperresonant Producing an abnormally loud, low-pitched percussion note that suggests trapped air in...
hypersensitivity A short, sharp pain from exposed dentine in response to stimuli such as cold, heat or...
hypersomnia Excessive daytime sleepiness or prolonged night-time sleep that is not relieved by rest.
hypertension Persistently raised pressure of the blood against the artery walls, a major risk factor...
hyperthermia An abnormally elevated body temperature, which in its malignant form is an anaesthetic...
hyperthyroidism Overactivity of the thyroid gland with excessive hormone secretion.
hypertonicity Abnormally increased muscle tone that makes a muscle feel tight and resistant to passive...
hypertrophy Enlargement of an organ or tissue from increased cell size.
hyperventilation Breathing in excess of metabolic requirements, lowering the arterial carbon dioxide.
hypervigilance A heightened state of alertness in which a person constantly scans for threat.
hyperviscosity Excessive thickness of the blood that impairs its flow through vessels.
hyphaema An accumulation of blood in the anterior chamber of the eye.
hypnotic A drug that induces or promotes sleep.
hypo The informal term used on the ward for an episode of hypoglycaemia.
hypoaesthesia A reduced sensitivity to touch or other sensory stimuli.
hypoalbuminaemia An abnormally low level of albumin protein in the blood.
hypoattenuating Appearing lower in density, and therefore darker, than the surrounding tissue on CT.
hypocapnia A reduced arterial carbon dioxide tension, commonly resulting from hyperventilation.
hypocarbia An abnormally low level of carbon dioxide in the blood, often from overventilation.
hypochondriasis A persistent, excessive preoccupation with the fear of having a serious illness, despite...
hypochromia Reduced staining intensity of red cells due to diminished haemoglobin content, giving an...
hypodense Appearing darker than the surrounding tissue on a cross-sectional scan.
hypodontia The developmental absence of one or a few teeth, excluding the third molars.
hypoechoic Producing fewer echoes and therefore appearing darker than surrounding tissue on...
hypoglycaemia An abnormally low level of glucose in the blood.
hypoglycaemic Lowering the concentration of glucose in the blood.
hypogonadism Deficient functional activity of the gonads, with reduced sex-hormone production.
hypointense Appearing dark, or of low signal, on a given MRI sequence.
hypokinesia A reduction in the amplitude and abundance of voluntary movement.
hypokinesis Reduced movement of a segment of the heart wall during contraction.
hypolipidaemic Acting to reduce the level of lipids, especially cholesterol, in the blood.
hypomania A milder form of mania with elevated mood and energy that does not cause marked...
hypomimia A reduction in the range and spontaneity of facial expression.
hyponasality Reduced nasal resonance, typically affecting the nasal consonants.
hyponatraemia An abnormally low concentration of sodium in the blood.
hypoperfusion An inadequate flow of blood to the tissues, often an early feature of shock.
hypopituitarism Deficient secretion of one or more anterior pituitary hormones.
hypoplasia Incomplete or defective development of a tissue, such as thin or pitted enamel of a tooth.
hypopnoea Abnormally shallow or slow breathing that reduces airflow without fully stopping it.
hypopyon A layer of white cells or pus settling in the lower anterior chamber, indicating severe...
hyporeflexia A diminished or weakened response of the deep tendon reflexes.
hyposplenism Diminished or absent splenic function, which predisposes to overwhelming infection by...
hypotension An abnormally low blood pressure, a frequent haemodynamic consequence of anaesthetic...
hypothec A charge or security over property that remains in the debtor's possession.
hypothecate To pledge property as security for a debt while retaining possession of it.
hypothecation The pledging of an asset as security for a debt without transferring possession or title...
hypothermia A core body temperature below thirty-six degrees, commonly caused by anaesthetic-induced...
hypothesis-driven Describing an approach that starts from a proposed answer and then tests it with targeted...
hypothetical tenant The notional occupier by reference to whom a property's annual rental value is estimated...
hypothyroidism A condition of deficient thyroid hormone production.
hypotonia Abnormally reduced muscle tone, often felt as decreased resistance to passive movement.
hypoventilation Inadequate ventilation that fails to clear carbon dioxide, causing its accumulation in...
hypovolaemia A reduced circulating blood volume that compromises tissue perfusion and cardiac filling.
hypovolaemic shock Circulatory failure caused by a severe drop in blood or fluid volume.
hypoxaemia An abnormally low partial pressure of oxygen in the arterial blood.
hypoxaemic Relating to or exhibiting an abnormally low level of oxygen in the arterial blood.
hypoxia A deficiency in the amount of oxygen reaching the body's tissues.
hysteresis The persistence of an economic effect, such as elevated unemployment, after the cause...

Learn these words without opening an app: Lexfall puts them on your home and lock screen.

Download on the App Store Lexfall puts a new word on your home and lock screen through widgets, so you learn without opening an app. Free to download. After a free trial, a subscription unlocks every field. Built for iPhone, iOS 15.1 or later.

On a computer?Scan with your iPhone camera.