Words in the News

This Week's Word In The News 

SHRAPNEL

DEFINITION:
Pieces of a bomb, shell, or bullet that has exploded.

FOUND IN THE NEWS:
The U.S. military exercise that shot live-fire artillery rounds over Interstate 5 on Saturday dropped metal shrapnel onto a California Highway Patrol protective services detail for Vice President JD Vance, agency officials said Sunday.
The Los Angeles Times, 10/20/2025

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Words in the News Quiz
5 High 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. Mitosis

The side of a right triangle opposite the right angle.

A plane curve formed by the intersection of a right circular cone and a plane parallel to an element of the cone.

The process in cell division by which the nucleus divides.

To repeat in concise form. To make a summary.


2. Oligarchy

To remove erroneous, vulgar, obscene, or otherwise objectionable material from (a book, for example) before publication.

Put together; created.

A temple tower of the ancient Assyrians and Babylonians, having the form of a terraced pyramid of successively receding stories.

Government by a few, especially by a small faction of persons or families.


3. Equinox

Either of two points on the celestial sphere at which the ecliptic intersects the celestial equator.

The use of words to express something different from and often opposite to their literal meaning.

Having a bad disposition; surly.

Division into ordered groups or categories.


4. Moiety

Division into ordered groups or categories.

The art or study of correct spelling according to established usage.

A part, portion, or share.

Logical incongruity


5. Plasma

Clear to the understanding.

To renounce under oath; forswear.

The clear, yellowish fluid portion of blood, lymph, or intramuscular fluid in which cells are suspended.

Of the same or similar nature or kind


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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.