APA Dictionary of Psychology

a test that requires participants to name all the words that they can beginning with specific letters (most commonly F, A, and S). The words cannot include proper names and cannot consist of previously used words with a suffix. The most widely utilized word fluency task, COWAT is used to measure executive functions and is also thought to assess language function. Also called FAS Test. [originally developed in 1968 by Arthur L. Benton]