Each week, we scan the latest headlines to spot words in action. From major news stories to pop culture buzz, this feature highlights language as it’s unfolding. Stories about sea turtles, a missing masterpiece, and Thanksgiving in space all contributed to the vocabulary from this week’s news.
acquittal
noun: a judgment of not guilty
From the headlines: Almost two years after a South Korean security guard was accused of stealing snacks from an office refrigerator, a judge ruled that he was not guilty. His employer argued that, as a subcontractor, he had no right to the Choco Pie and mini custard cake he said had been given to him by other staff. The case angered many South Koreans, who felt the offense was far too minor to warrant prosecution, and his acquittal was met with widespread approval.
behemoth
noun: someone or something that is abnormally large and powerful
From the headlines: Starbucks has agreed to pay $39 million in a historic worker protection settlement. New York City’s Department of Consumer and Worker Protection found that the coffee behemoth had violated a law guaranteeing fair working conditions over 500,000 times since 2021. Starbucks, the world’s largest coffee company with more than 40,000 stores, will pay each hourly employee in the city $50 for each week they worked between 2021 and 2024.
centenarian
noun: someone who is at least one hundred years old
From the headlines: A survey of one hundred centenarians showed that they participate in a wide variety of activities, with the majority reporting that they enjoy life and laugh often. Researchers polled people who were at least one hundred years old and found that forty-two percent regularly walk or hike, thirty percent tend gardens, forty percent play video games, and half use social media. Despite the difficulties of aging, most had what the study deemed a “positive outlook.”
epoch
noun: a period marked by distinctive character
From the headlines: In examining how neural wiring shifts across a lifetime, scientists outlined what they call five epochs of brain development. By analyzing brain scans from 4,000 individuals ranging in age from one to ninety, the researchers identified distinct “turning points” occurring at roughly ages nine, thirty-two, sixty-six, and eighty-three. These markers allowed them to classify the five epochs as childhood, adolescence, adulthood, early aging, and late aging.
hatchling
noun: a young bird or animal that has just emerged from an egg
From the headlines: With the help of conservationists who protect hatchlings before they crawl into the sea, the population of olive ridley sea turtles is rebounding in India. Volunteers remove turtle eggs from their nests and place them in cages, where they’re safe from predators, until the baby turtles hatch. Once they emerge from their shells, the turtles are supervised as they make their way to the water.
monarch
noun: a nation’s ruler, usually by hereditary right
From the headlines: Supporters of Japan’s Princess Aiko are pushing to amend the country’s succession law, which currently permits only men to serve as the country’s monarch. Because of this restriction, Aiko cannot inherit the throne from her father, Emperor Naruhito; instead, her teenage cousin Prince Hisahito is the designated heir. The princess is so widely admired that many are advocating for the rule to be changed, though conservative lawmakers continue to uphold the male-only tradition.
mores
noun: the conventions embodying the fundamental values of a group
From the headlines: Iran is undergoing a striking shift in its social mores. Only five years ago, authorities harshly punished dancing, house parties, and women appearing in public without head coverings. Although the current government still suppresses political dissent, it has become more permissive about everyday social conduct. Young Iranians are openly challenging old taboos by hosting concerts and dance gatherings, and increasing numbers of women are leaving their heads uncovered and spending time with men in public.
ozone layer
noun: a region of the stratosphere that blocks UV radiation from the sun
From the headlines: This year’s hole in the ozone layer over the Antarctic was the smallest it’s been since 2019, according to scientists. The protective layer of Earth’s atmosphere has been recovering since damaging chemicals were phased out starting in 1987. Experts are optimistic that these bans will eventually lead to a complete recovery of the thin Antarctic ozone layer. Named for its high concentration of ozone molecules, the ozone layer is a buffer against powerful UV radiation.
sumptuous
adjective: rich and superior in quality
From the headlines: Astronauts aboard the International Space Station enjoyed a sumptuous Thanksgiving dinner last week. A recent NASA resupply mission delivered an array of indulgent foods such as smoked salmon, oysters, and quail. The three NASA crew members shared the feast, which also featured turkey, mashed potatoes, and gravy, with their three Russian cosmonaut colleagues and one Japanese astronaut.
whereabouts
noun: the general location of someone or something
From the headlines: A Peter Paul Rubens masterpiece that had been missing since the 17th century sold at auction on November 30 for $2.7 million. The painting’s whereabouts had been a mystery for 400 years when it was found in a Paris mansion in 2024. Christ on the Cross disappeared from public view soon after the Baroque artist completed it in 1613. Although historians have long been aware the painting existed, its location was unknown for generations.
