Words in the News

This Week's Word In The News 

PETITIONER

DEFINITION:
A person who pleads with a governmental institution for a legal remedy or a redress of grievances, through the use of a petition.

FOUND IN THE NEWS:
While presenting the citizens’ petition for debate at the April 11 Spring Town Meeting, petitioners argued that ICE operations in Plymouth have “created fear” and “disrupted lives” among the immigrant community, leading to what they call a distrust of local police.
►The Boston Herald, 04/20/2026

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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. Xylem

► The supporting and water-conducting tissue of vascular plants, consisting primarily of tracheids and vessels; woody tissue.

► To honor the memory of with a ceremony

► Not subject to an obligation imposed on others; exempt.

► The science and art of using all the forces of a nation to execute approved plans as effectively as possible during peace or war.

2. Quarantine

► An ammunition belt, worn over the shoulder, having loops or pockets for cartridges.

► Enforced isolation or restriction of free movement imposed to prevent the spread of contagious disease.

► The distribution of energy emitted by a radiant source, arranged in order of wavelengths.

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

3. Random

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

► Forfeiture of something highly valued for the sake of one considered to have a greater value or claim.

► Having no specific pattern, purpose, or objective.

► Having a backbone or spinal column.

4. Hypocrisy

► Strikingly unconventional and far-fetched in style or appearance; odd

► The practice of professing beliefs, feelings, or virtues that one does not hold or possess; falseness.

► Of, relating to, or occurring in the night

► A movement or procedure involving skill and dexterity.

5. Tariff

► A schedule of prices or fees.

► A diffuse mass of interstellar dust or gas or both, visible as luminous patches or areas of darkness

► A person with masterly skill or technique in the arts.

► Grossly offensive to decency or morality.

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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.