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’s unfolding. Stories about Rockette hopefuls, the election of the next pope, and fake facts from AI all contributed words to this list of vocabulary from the week’s news.
assiduous
adjective: constant in application or effort; working diligently at a task
From the headlines: About 1,000 determined dancers tried out for the Rockettes at the troupe’s annual open audition. Some of the hopefuls who waited in line for the chance to demonstrate their high kicks and other dance moves were so assiduous that they had auditioned many times before. At least one would-be Rockette said it was her tenth time trying out for the precision dance team. Just 84 dancers made the cut, but many said they would be back next year to try again.
caste
noun: Hinduism. any of the social divisions into which Hindu society is traditionally divided, each caste having its own privileges and limitations, transferred by inheritance from one generation to the next
From the headlines: For the first time, India’s census will include details on castes. Government officials said adding information about social and economic status to the count demonstrated the administration’s commitment to “values of the society and country.” Castes have existed for thousands of years in India, each based on jobs, family, and wealth, but there is little data about how many people fall into each group.
conclave
noun: the assembly or meeting of the cardinals for the election of a pope
From the headlines: In Vatican City, after 16 days of deliberation following the death of Pope Francis, the conclave of 133 cardinals chose a new pontiff: Pope Leo XIV, formerly known as Cardinal Robert Prevost. This historic selection marks the first time a pope has been chosen from the United States. The secretive听conclave, held inside the Sistine Chapel, concluded when Leo XIV secured the required听two-thirds vote. The selection was听signaled to the world by the rise of white smoke above the Vatican.
follicle听
noun: Anatomy. a small cavity, sac, or gland
From the headlines: Scientists have discovered that human wounds take far longer to heal than those of most mammals. One key difference? Follicles. In furry animals, tiny hair follicles are packed with stem cells that kick-start the healing process, helping to close up everything from scrapes to serious gashes. Our mostly hairless skin may look sleek, but it heals at about half the speed. The trade-off? We鈥檙e better at staying cool, thanks to our superior ability to sweat.
fortuitous
adjective: lucky; fortunate
From the headlines: Two Czech hikers made a听fortuitous discovery: an old aluminum can stuffed with 598 gold coins. The pair were walking in the foothills of the Czech Republic’s Krkonose Mountains when they saw a glint of metal in a stone wall. Their first lucky find, a small fortune in neatly wrapped stacks, was followed by another 鈥� a metal box full of gold bracelets, combs, and compacts. The hikers turned over the treasure, later valued at nearly $700,000, to archaeologists at a nearby museum.
hallucination
noun: Computers, Digital Technology. (in the field of machine learning) false information generated by a machine learning program contrary to the intent of the user and presented as if it were true and factual
From the headlines: As AI grows more powerful, so do its hallucinations. While it鈥檚 better than ever at crunching numbers, it also fabricates facts 鈥� sometimes up to 79% of the time. Experts say this may happen because AI uses mathematical probability to answer questions, which seems to result in hallucinations.
lemon
noun: Informal. a person or thing that proves to be defective, imperfect, or unsatisfactory; dud
From the headlines: Plenty of 鈥�lemons鈥� crossed the finish line at a quirky South Carolina race where every car was worth less than $500. The 24 Hours of Lemons 鈥� an endurance event proudly dubbed 鈥渞acing for real people鈥� 鈥� saw dozens of beat-up, googly-eyed vehicles battle it out just to stay running on a two-mile track. But at this race, being a lemon is the whole point.
psychotherapy
noun: the treatment of psychological disorders or maladjustments by a professional technique, as psychoanalysis, group therapy, or behavioral therapy
From the headlines: A new study reveals a surprising shift: more people are turning to psychotherapy, while fewer are relying on psychiatric medications. For the first time in years, prescriptions for mental health conditions are down 鈥� but that dip is matched by a rise in people seeking talk therapy for depression, anxiety, trauma, and more.
rescind
verb: to invalidate (an act, measure, etc.) by a later action or a higher authority
From the headlines: Federal cuts to the National Endowment for the Arts budget led the agency to rescind hundreds of grants awarded to arts groups around the country. Organizations including New York’s Central Park Summer Stage and the Yale Repertory Theater lost their funding. Before the cuts, NEA spending comprised 0.003% of the total federal budget.
thwart
verb: to oppose successfully; prevent from accomplishing a purpose
From the headlines: Brazilian police thwarted a violent plot targeting a free Lady Gaga concert in Rio de Janeiro 鈥� the biggest show of her career, with a crowd of nearly two million. Authorities uncovered the plan after the suspects tried to recruit help online to make Molotov cocktails and other explosives. Two people were arrested before the scheme could unfold.
