Words in the News

This Week's Word In The News 

ROOSTER TAIL

DEFINITION:
A high-arching spray (as of water, dust, or snow) thrown up behind a fast-moving motorboat, motor vehicle, or skier.

FOUND IN THE NEWS:
A second red flag was waved during the fifth race of the day when Rollin Transport got into a rooster tail on the turn of the first lap, resulting in the boat going onto its side before flipping.
The Key West Citizen, 11/10/2025

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Words in the News Quiz
5 Middle School Words

Click on the correct answer in the quiz below.
Then see if you can find the word in your newspaper -- the print edition, the website or the digital edition and copy the sentence for context. NOTE: High School words are much harder to find!


1. Jaunty

Any of several rod-shaped bacteria, of the genus Salmonella, that cause food poisoning and other diseases.

A characteristic rate or rhythm of activity; a pace

Having a buoyant or self-confident air; brisk.

A person authorized to act as representative for another; a deputy.


2. Deign

To swing indecisively from one course of action or opinion to another.

Sharing the same opinions or views; being in complete harmony or accord.

An intricate structure of interconnecting passages through which it is difficult to find one’s way; a maze.

To condescend to give or grant


3. Heritage

A preparation of a weakened or killed pathogen.

Something that is passed down from preceding generations; a tradition.

Using or marked by the use of few words; terse or concise.

One thing conceived as representing another; a symbol.


4. Guerrilla

A member of an irregular, usually indigenous military or paramilitary unit operating in small bands in occupied territory to harass and undermine the enemy

To have a great ambition or ultimate goal

A person with masterly skill or technique in the arts.

One who rejects a religion, cause, allegiance, or group for another; a deserter.


5. Stereotype

A schedule of prices or fees.

A conventional, formulaic, and oversimplified conception, opinion, or image.

Either of two times of the year when the sun is at its greatest distance from the celestial equator.

A closed plane figure bounded by three or more line segments.


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Common Core State Standard
LS.CCS.4/5/6 Grades 3-12: Students are asked to determine the meaning of unknown and multiple-meaning words through multiple choice vocabulary quizzes. Quizzes are designed to help students demonstrate understanding of figurative language, word relationships and nuances in words, acquire and use accurately grade-appropriate general academic and domain-specific words, and gather vocabulary knowledge when considering a word or phrase important to comprehension or expression. Students are then asked to find the words within the newspaper and copy the sentence for context to its overall meaning or function in a sentence.