Each week, we scan the latest headlines to spot words in action. From major news stories to pop culture buzz, this list highlights language as it鈥檚 unfolding. Stories about college tuition, elderly penguins, and basketball all contributed words to this list of vocabulary from the week’s news.
bipartisan
adjective: representing, characterized by, or including members from two parties or factions
From the headlines: The Trump administration鈥檚 decision to cut funding for the Open Technology Fund (OTF) has raised concerns among lawmakers, who see it as a vital tool against internet censorship in authoritarian regimes. Trump’s executive order effectively terminated the OTF鈥檚 budget, prompting bipartisan efforts to save the program. Advocates warn that without OTF-backed tools, many citizens and activists could lose secure communication channels, increasing their risk of surveillance and persecution.
defraud
verb: to deprive of a right, money, or property by fraud
From the headlines: Hollywood writer-director Carl Erik Rinsch was arrested for defrauding Netflix of $11 million, meant for his unfinished sci-fi show White Horse. Prosecutors say he spent around $10 million on luxury purchases, including Rolls-Royces, a Ferrari, and antiques. Prosecutors also claim that he used the money to pay legal fees to sue Netflix for additional money. Rinsch has been charged with wire fraud and money laundering, while Netflix has declined to comment.
franchise
noun: Sports. a professional sports team
From the headlines: A group led by Bill Chisholm has agreed to buy the Boston Celtics for $6.1 billion, making it the most expensive franchise sale in North American sports history. The Celtics, fresh off their 18th NBA title, are facing significant financial challenges under the new collective bargaining agreement, but remain favorites to repeat as champions.
geriatric
adjective: noting or relating to aged people or animals
From the headlines: The New England Aquarium in Boston has introduced a new “retirement home” for geriatric aquarium penguins, relocating six elderly birds to a designated island. While wild penguins typically live about ten years, the new aquarium houses twenty penguins in their twenties and thirties. This specialized haven ensures these aging animals receive monitoring for conditions such as arthritis and cataracts.
Fun fact: The Greek 驳脓谤艒蝉, “old,” is the root of geriatric.
manipulate
verb: to adapt or change (accounts, figures, etc.) to suit one’s purpose or advantage
From the headlines: A cheating scandal shook the world of professional ski jumping this week. Several members of Team Norway were suspended after officials found evidence that their ski suits had been manipulated to make the athletes more aerodynamic. The team’s manager admitted to illegally adding an extra seam where the legs are sewn together; more material there was hoped to give the jumpers extra lift and allow air to flow around them more efficiently.
pristine
adjective:聽having its original purity; uncorrupted or unsullied
From the headlines: Many countries are looking to Switzerland as a model, hoping to replicate its transformation of once heavily polluted rivers and lakes into some of the most pristine in Europe. In the 1960s, Swiss waterways were choked with algae and dead fish due to sewage and industrial pollution. However, over the following decades, the country made significant investments in advanced water treatment facilities. Today, nearly all of its lakes and rivers are once again pristine and safe for swimming.
prolong
verb: to lengthen out in time; extend the duration of; cause to continue longer
From the headlines: After their quick trip to the International Space Station turned out to have an unexpectedly long duration, two NASA astronauts have been safely returned to Earth. What began as an eight-day mission for Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams had to be prolonged after their Starliner spacecraft experienced helium leaks and thruster problems. The two ended up staying on the ISS for more than nine months, until two seats were available on a returning space capsule.
tuition
noun: the charge or fee for instruction, as at a private school or a college or university
From the headlines: Starting this fall, attending Harvard University will cost nothing for most students. The school announced that tuition will be free for people whose families earn less than $200,000 per year. The average household income in the U.S. is $80,000. Food, housing, health insurance, and travel will also be free for less wealthy students. The University of Pennsylvania and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology have adopted the same financial aid policy.
unredacted
adjective: (of a document) with confidential or sensitive information included or visible
From the headlines: The Trump administration released over 2,000 documents on JFK鈥檚 assassination, leading to a search for new insights. While the unredacted files do not dispute that Lee Harvey Oswald acted alone, they reveal long-hidden details about CIA agents and operations. Attorney Larry Schnapf, who has pushed for their release, argues the disclosures highlight excessive government secrecy. He believes the unredacted documents demonstrate how overclassification has been misused by national security officials.
