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 heat waves, a medical breakthrough, and a Biblical mystery all contributed words to this list of vocabulary from the week’s news.
apnea
noun: a temporary suspension of breathing, occurring in some newborns and adults during sleep
From the headlines: According to scientists, climate change is making sleep apnea much more common. A recent study showed that the condition, in which someone stops breathing repeatedly while they’re asleep, is fifty percent more likely to be diagnosed when the temperature is over 80 degrees. Severe apnea, when breathing stops more than thirty times per hour, is also more common in hotter climates. As average temperatures rise globally, researchers expect to see cases increase too.
colossal
adjective: extraordinarily great in size, extent, or degree; gigantic; huge
From the headlines: Sixteen colossal statues are once again standing atop Notre-Dame Cathedral’s famous spire. Each copper-coated figure stands about 11 feet tall and weighs around 330 pounds. They escaped the devastating 2019 fire because they had been taken down a few days earlier for repairs.
enigma
noun: a puzzling or inexplicable occurrence or situation
From the headlines: A rare 1614 Low German Bible was returned to its home in a library in Boerne, Texas, after being restored and digitized. How the Bible originally came to be in that small town is an enigma. A librarian discovered the Bible, of which there are only seven copies in the world, decades ago. Historians determined when and where it was published, but they have yet to solve the mystery of how it arrived in Boerne.
Fun fact: The word enigma comes from a Greek word meaning “to speak in riddles.”
heat wave
noun: a period of abnormally hot and usually humid weather
From the headlines: A heat wave hit much of the Midwest and Northeast this week. The brutally high temperatures broke records in several East Coast cities, many of which hadn’t reached 100 degrees or higher in at least a decade. Sweltering conditions caused power outages, led to cancelled outdoor events and train delays, and sent hundreds to the hospital with heat-related illness.
indefatigable
adjective: incapable of being tired out; not yielding to fatigue; untiring
From the headlines: After seven hard-fought games, the Oklahoma City Thunder emerged as an NBA champion for the first time. The indefatigable team ultimately outmatched the determined Indiana Pacers. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander earned MVP honors with a series average of 30.3 points per game.
insulin
noun: a polypeptide hormone that regulates the metabolism of glucose and other nutrients
From the headlines: In a small trial of a new diabetes drug, most patients with a severe form of the disease were cured and no longer needed to use insulin to regulate their blood sugar. The stem cell infusion was tested in just twelve people, but one year later only two of them still needed the hormone supplement to control their Type 1 diabetes — and they were able to take much lower doses. Ten patients completely stopped using insulin. The experimental drug is still in the testing stage.
kelp
noun: any large, brown, cold-water seaweed of the family Laminariaceae
From the headlines: Scientists have observed Pacific Ocean orcas using kelp to groom one another, marking the first known case of a marine mammal using a tool in a way once thought to be unique to primates. The whales were seen biting off strands of the ropy seaweed and rolling them between their two bodies. Researchers believe this behavior may help them shed dead skin or remove parasites.
pathogen
noun: any disease-producing agent, especially a virus, bacterium, or other microorganism
From the headlines: Epidemiologists say it’s likely to be a bad year for tick bites, based on the number of people who sought treatment in emergency rooms during May. While Lyme disease is the most common and well-known illness caused by ticks, these blood-sucking parasites often carry many other pathogens. Being bitten by a tick can expose a person to dozens of tiny disease-causing microorganisms — including bacteria, parasites, and viruses.
primary
noun: a preliminary election in which voters of each party nominate candidates for office, party officers, etc.
From the headlines: Although it will be several days before the result is official, Zohran Mamdani declared victory over his closest rival in the New York City mayoral primary on June 24. Until recently, Andrew Cuomo had been favored to win the party election, which decides which candidates will be on the November 4 ballot. Mamdani will face Republican Curtis Sliwa, current mayor Eric Adams, and several other Independents in the general election. If elected, Mamdani would be the city’s first Muslim mayor.
successor
noun: a person who succeeds another in an office, position, or the like
From the headlines: The Dalai Lama announced that he intends to name a successor on his 90th birthday next month. As a guiding figure for Tibetan Buddhists, especially those in exile, his decision carries great significance. His announcement is expected to bring clarity to followers who are uncertain about the future.
