Vocabulary: Batch 20

Latin gendered plurals: alumnus (male), alumna (female), alumni (mixed/male plural), alumnae (female plural). Often shortened to "alum" (gender-neutral).

• a former student of a school or college

  He's a Harvard alumnus.

• a former female student of a school or college

  She's a Wellesley alumna.

• former students of a school or college, especially a mixed or male group

  Many alumni returned for homecoming weekend.

• former female students of a school or college

  The alumnae association raised funds for scholarships.

From Latin "ex" (out) + "onus" (burden). "Posthumously exonerated": increasingly common as DNA evidence clears old convictions. Stronger than "acquit".

• to officially clear of blame

  DNA evidence exonerated the prisoner.

• the theory that parts of a whole are best understood in relation to each other and the whole

  Holism influenced her approach to medicine.

From Greek "holos" (whole). "Holistic medicine": alternative health movement treating body and mind together. "Holistic approach": common business buzzword.

• considering the whole rather than parts

  They took a holistic approach to the problem.

Also "sleepover". Common rite of girlhood in American culture. Movie nights, gossip, ghost stories, prank calls.

• a party at which guests stay overnight

  The girls had a slumber party.

Noun stress: REC-ord. Verb stress: re-CORD. "Off the record": not for publication. "On the record": quotable. "Track record": history of performance.

• a written account; a vinyl music disc

  He set a new world record.

• to set down in writing or capture as audio/video

  She recorded the lecture.

Botanical origin: side branch from a plant stem. Figurative: companies, religions, ideas have offshoots.

• a side branch from a main thing

  This company is an offshoot of the parent corporation.

Major term in modern political discourse. Algorithms accused of creating echo chambers by showing users only confirming content.

• an environment where beliefs are only confirmed by others with the same views

  Social media can become an echo chamber.

Synonym: unfriend. Both coined around Facebook's rise. "Unfriend" was Oxford Word of the Year 2009.

• to remove from one's friends list on social media

  She defriended him after the argument.

Court that reviews lower-court decisions. US: federal Courts of Appeals ("circuit courts"). Highest: Supreme Court.

• a court that reviews lower court decisions

  They took the case to the appeal court.

Specialized panel that hears appeals in a specific area (immigration, employment, tax). Less formal than courts but legally binding.

• a body that hears appeals on specific matters

  His case went to an immigration appeal tribunal.

"Extracurricular activities": sports, clubs, music. Important for US college applications. From Latin "extra" (outside) + "curriculum".

• outside the regular school curriculum

  She had many extracurricular activities.

Always positive. "Unwavering loyalty", "unwavering faith", "unwavering support": common collocations.

• steady; not changing

  He showed unwavering loyalty.

From French "maison" (house). British term. Like a duplex but typically smaller, often in a converted Victorian house.

• (British) a two-story flat

  They bought a maisonette in Brighton.

"Mansion": typically over 8,000 sq ft in US real estate parlance. "Haunted mansion": Disney attraction. "Playboy Mansion": Hugh Hefner's famous LA estate.

• a large impressive house

  They lived in a hilltop mansion.

"Freemason": fraternal organization with stonecutter origins. "Mason jar": preserving jar. Stonemasonry is ancient skilled trade.

• a person who works with stone

  The mason cut the granite blocks.

• stonework or brickwork built by a mason

  The old wall's masonry had begun to crumble.

Traditional: husband as sole breadwinner. "Two-breadwinner household" became standard in late 20th c.

• the main earner in a family

  She became the family breadwinner.

"Streaking" peaked in the 1970s. Famous: Oscar streaker (1974). Sports broadcasts often cut away to avoid encouraging it.

• a person who runs naked in a public place

  A streaker interrupted the football match.

"Streaky bacon": British term for fatty bacon. "Streaky hair": with highlights. "Streaky" performance: inconsistent (sports).

• marked with streaks

  The window was streaky from the rain.

British name; American: just "bacon" (default cut). UK "back bacon": leaner; common British breakfast item.

• (British) bacon with alternating layers of fat and meat

  She fried streaky bacon for breakfast.

Origins debated: popularized in early-20th-century US burlesque. Famous: Gypsy Rose Lee. Burlesque revival in early 2000s (Dita Von Teese).

• the entertainment of removing clothing sensually

  The performer did a striptease.

Controversial police/customs practice. Always invasive. Legal protections vary by jurisdiction. Sometimes capitalized when about a specific case.

• to search a person who has removed their clothing

  The suspect was strip-searched at the station.

Includes pat-down, more invasive techniques. Common at airports, prisons, concerts. "Cavity search": most invasive, requires probable cause.

• a physical search of a person's body

  All passengers underwent body searches.

UK term. Common in kitchens, garages, offices. American equivalent: fluorescent tube. Now being replaced by LED strips.

• a long fluorescent lighting tube

  The garage was lit by strip lights.

• lighting using long fluorescent tubes

  The office had harsh strip lighting.

Noun stress: per-vert. Verb stress: per-VERT. Modern usage typically the noun for sexual deviant. "Pervert the course of justice": UK legal term.

• a person whose sexual behavior is considered abnormal

  He was called a pervert.

Strong word. "Perverted desires": common collocation. Also: "perverted version of X" = corrupted form.

• showing or characterized by abnormal sexuality; corrupted

  He had perverted desires.

Means deliberately contrary or unreasonable - not necessarily sexual.

• showing a deliberate desire to behave unacceptably or contrary to what is expected

  He took perverse pleasure in proving everyone wrong.

1. the distortion of something from its original or correct state

   Locking up whistleblowers is a perversion of justice.

2. sexual behavior regarded as abnormal

   The novel deals frankly with obsession and perversion.

Comparative: better. Superlative: best. Vast metaphorical range. "For good" = permanently. "Good Samaritan": kind stranger. "Goods" (plural) = merchandise.

• of high quality or standard

  That's a good idea.

• moral or beneficial value; what is right or beneficial

  They did it for the good of the community.

• merchandise; things that are bought, sold, or transported

  The goods were shipped overnight.

"I won't sugar-coat it": common preface to bad news. Originally literal (pills coated for taste), now mostly figurative.

• to make unpleasant news seem more acceptable

  Don't sugar-coat it: tell me the truth.

1. covered with sugar

   The kids ate sugar-coated cereal.

2. made to seem more pleasant than it is

   She refused to give a sugar-coated answer.

Common in arguments: "you misinterpreted what I said". Different from "misunderstand" (passive failure): misinterpret implies an active wrong reading.

• to interpret incorrectly

  She misinterpreted his silence as anger.

Past: led. Two pronunciations: /liːd/ (verb, the position) and /led/ (the metal). "Lead by example", "lead the way", "lead astray": common idioms.

• to guide or be at the front of

  She led the team to victory.

• a heavy soft metal (chemical element)

  The pipes were made of lead.

From French (named after the Van der Beurze family in Bruges). "Paris Bourse", "Brussels Bourse": historical European exchanges. Mostly journalism-only term in English.

• a stock exchange, especially in continental Europe

  The Paris bourse closed lower.

Formal/journalistic. "Decry violence", "decry corruption": typical contexts. Stronger than "criticize".

• to publicly denounce

  Critics decried the new policy.

British spelling "colour". American: "color-blind". Also figurative: "colour-blind casting", without regard to race. "Color-blind" (US political): not seeing racial differences.

• unable to distinguish certain colors

  He's colour-blind to red and green.

Originally: black stone used to test gold purity by streak color. Figurative: standard or reference point. "Cultural touchstone": common phrase.

• a standard by which something is judged

  The Constitution is a touchstone for American law.

Sometimes "megaplex" for 16+ screens. AMC, Regal, Cineworld: major chains. Replaced earlier single-screen theaters from the 1970s onward.

• a cinema with multiple screens

  They went to the multiplex downtown.

Also: streetlight, street lamp. Modern: many cities switching to LED for energy savings. Historic: gas lamps preserved in some old cities.

• a light on a pole that illuminates a street

  He waited under the streetlamp.

Homophone of "toe". "Towing service": for broken-down cars. "Tow the line" (idiom, often misspelled "toe the line"): conform.

• to pull a vehicle behind another

  The truck towed the broken car.

"Engine overhaul": major mechanical service. "Tax overhaul", "system overhaul": figurative. Implies thorough renewal, not just repair.

• to examine and repair thoroughly

  The engine needs an overhaul.

From French "espionnage" (note the silent "ge" pronounced /-ʒ/). "Corporate espionage": modern variant. "Espionage Act" (1917): controversial US law.

• the practice of spying, especially for a government

  He was convicted of espionage.

"Thwart" common in news of foiled plots: "thwarted terrorist attack". From Old Norse "thvert" (across, opposite).

• to prevent from succeeding

  The plan was thwarted by bad weather.

From Don Quixote (Cervantes, 1605/1615): the deluded knight tilting at windmills. Note pronunciation: /kwɪk-/, not /kee-hoh-/.

• unrealistic and impractical, like Don Quixote

  His quixotic plans never worked out.

"At half-mast": flag flown lower as mourning sign. "Nail one's colors to the mast": declare loyalty publicly. "Mast cell", different sense: immune cell.

• a tall pole on a boat that supports sails

  The flag flew from the top of the mast.

Named after a famous 17th-century English executioner (Derrick) whose gallows resembled the lifting tower. Now mostly oil-industry term.

• a tower-like crane, especially over an oil well

  The derrick towered above the rig.

Greek/Latin numeric prefixes: double, triple, quadruple, quintuple, sextuple. Often financial: "profits quadrupled".

• to make four times as much

  The company's profits quadrupled.

• consisting of four parts or elements; four times as great

  The patient underwent quadruple bypass surgery.

Often: "far-flung corners of the world", "far-flung empire". Slightly literary/journalistic feel.

• distant and remote

  They lived in a far-flung village.

Rarer word: usually used in literary contexts. Implies a notable lack of curiosity rather than just absence.

• showing no interest or curiosity

  He was incurious about the new development.

Often: "incurable disease" (HIV before antiretrovirals; some cancers). Also figurative: "an incurable romantic" = always optimistic about love.

• impossible to cure

  He has an incurable disease.

Also: "seabed". "Seafloor spreading": plate tectonics concept (mid-ocean ridges). "Deep seafloor" remains mostly unmapped despite being 70% of Earth's surface.

• the floor of the sea

  The submarine explored the seafloor.

"MasterClass": popular online platform with celebrity teachers (Aaron Sorkin, Gordon Ramsay, etc.). Also: figurative use for any expert demonstration.

• a class given by an expert to advanced students

  She gave a masterclass in jazz piano.

"Teeter-totter": US name for seesaw. "Teeter on the brink/edge": common figurative phrase about being close to disaster.

• to move unsteadily as if losing balance

  She teetered on her high heels.

Off-road vehicles often have winches for self-recovery. Sailing: winches haul lines under load. Distinct from "wench" (similar pronunciation).

• a lifting device with a rope wound around a drum

  They used a winch to lift the car.

"Flip a coin" = decide by chance. "Flip out" = lose temper. "Flip the script" = reverse situation. "House flipping": quick buy-resell for profit.

• to turn over with a quick movement

  She flipped the pancake.

Note silent "s": homophone of "isle" and "I'll". "Walk down the aisle" = get married. "Across the aisle": political (bipartisan).

• a passage between rows of seats or shelves

  She walked down the aisle to the altar.

"Para-" (beside) + "legal". Cannot give legal advice or represent clients in court. Common career path or step toward law school.

• a person who assists a lawyer

  She works as a paralegal.

From Greek tragedy: pride that brings divine punishment (nemesis). "Hubris before the fall": common pattern in business/political analysis.

• excessive pride or self-confidence

  His hubris led to his downfall.

Older term. Also: "paddy wagon" (somewhat offensive, "Paddy" was a slur for Irish people, many of whom were arrested or were policemen).

• a police vehicle for transporting prisoners

  They were loaded into the patrol wagon.

In modern English, almost always refers to sexual abuse, especially of children. Older meaning ("to bother, harass") now archaic/rare.

• to sexually assault, especially a child

  He was convicted of molesting children.

"Last-ditch effort/attempt": common phrase before giving up. Origin: military, the final defensive trench.

• made as a final desperate attempt

  It was a last-ditch effort to save the deal.

"First floor", US: ground level; UK: one above ground. "On the floor": currently being debated. "Floor": also lower bound.

• the lower surface of a room

  He sat on the floor.

1. to knock someone down with a blow

   One punch floored him.

2. to shock or astonish someone completely

   The news floored her.

"Asylum backlog", "court backlog": institutional bottlenecks. Tech: "product backlog", list of features awaiting development (Agile/Scrum).

• an accumulation of unfinished work

  There's a huge backlog of emails to read.

Military unit, traditionally ~1,000-3,000 soldiers. UK regiments often historic with elaborate traditions. As verb: "regiment" = organize rigidly.

• a permanent military unit

  He served in an infantry regiment.

"Regimental colors": flag of a regiment. "Regimental mess": officers' dining/social hall. Adj. version emphasizing the military-unit sense.

• relating to a regiment

  They held a regimental dinner.

"Skincare regimen": beauty industry. "Drug regimen": medical term for prescribed therapy. Distinct from "regiment" (military unit).

• a systematic plan for diet, exercise, or treatment

  He follows a strict exercise regimen.

From Greek ("all gods"). The Pantheon in Rome: ancient temple, now church. "Pantheon of greats": figurative for collected heroes of any field.

• all the gods of a religion; a group of revered people

  He joined the pantheon of jazz greats.

Branch of biology. Famous botanists: Linnaeus (binomial naming), Mendel (genetics from pea plants). "Botany Bay": early Australian penal colony.

• the scientific study of plants

  She studied botany at Oxford.

Often "botanic garden" / "botanical garden": interchangeable. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (London): famous example.

• relating to plants

  We visited the botanic gardens.

"Botanical illustration": artistic-scientific drawings. "Botanicals" (noun): plant-based ingredients in gin, cosmetics.

• relating to plants

  The book has many botanical illustrations.

The field is botany. The 2015 Matt Damon film "The Martian" features a botanist stranded on Mars.

• a scientist who studies plants

  The botanist identified the rare species.

Famous: Grand Canyon (a gorge complex), Cheddar Gorge (UK). "Gorge", also verb: gorge oneself on (food). "Gorgeous": different word, etymologically related (originally "throat").

• a deep narrow valley with steep sides

  The river runs through a deep gorge.

• to eat greedily until completely full

  They gorged themselves on birthday cake.

Famous: Titanic (1912), Edmund Fitzgerald (1975). "Shipwrecked": castaway narrative (Robinson Crusoe). "Shipwreck" as figurative: ruined life or relationship.

• the destruction of a ship at sea

  They explored the ancient shipwreck.

UK: legally designated zone with restrictions on changes to buildings. Designed to preserve historic character of neighborhoods.

• a designated area where development is restricted

  Their house is in a conservation area.

Linguistic subfield. "Speech act theory", "implicature": key concepts (Grice's maxims). Distinguishes from semantics (literal meaning).

• the study of language in context

  Pragmatics studies how meaning depends on context.

Also: American philosophical school (William James, John Dewey, Charles Sanders Peirce). General sense: prioritizing practical results over ideology.

• a practical approach to problems

  Her pragmatism made her a good negotiator.

Tiny arachnids: different from insects. "Dust mites": common allergens in bedding. "Spider mites": plant pests. Homophone of "might".

• a tiny arachnid; a small amount

  Dust mites can cause allergies.

"Dennis the Menace": comic strip/cartoon character (both UK and US versions). "Menace to society": common dramatic phrase.

• a person or thing causing harm

  That dog is a menace.

Real estate negotiations: standard back-and-forth includes counteroffers. Salary: when candidates use a competing offer to negotiate.

• an offer made in response to another

  They made a counteroffer of $100,000.

Common in war news: Ukraine's 2023 counteroffensive against Russian forces. Also figurative: "PR counteroffensive".

• an attack made in response to an attack

  The army launched a counteroffensive.

"Economic slowdown": common news phrase. Labor: "slowdown" can mean deliberate work slowdown by union (similar to strike).

• a reduction in speed or activity

  The slowdown in growth worried investors.

• a nation or territory considered as an organized political community under one government

  Germany is a federal state made up of sixteen regions.

• the particular condition that someone or something is in at a specific time

  The house was left in a terrible state.

• to express something clearly and definitely, in speech or writing

  Please state your name for the record.

Major debate in US: Puerto Rico and DC statehood. International: "Palestinian statehood" recognition. Implies independent nationhood.

• the status of being a recognized political state

  Hawaii achieved statehood in 1959.

Common in census, election, and statistical contexts. Opposite: undercount. "COVID-19 overcount/undercount": debated metric.

• to count more than the actual number

  The census may have overcounted some populations.

"Life without parole" (LWOP): most severe US sentence short of death. "Life sentence" varies: minimum 15-25 years in many countries.

• a sentence of imprisonment for life

  He received a life sentence for murder.

Synonym of life sentence, slightly more formal. "Mandatory life imprisonment": for certain crimes in some jurisdictions.

• imprisonment for life as punishment

  Life imprisonment is the maximum penalty in this country.

Pejorative. Implies excessive concern with rules and minor errors. "Grammar pedant" : corrects others' grammar annoyingly.

• a person overly concerned with small details

  He's a pedant about spelling.

• excessive concern with minor details

  His pedantry got in the way of communication.

Disapproving. A "pedant" (countable noun) is the person.

• excessively concerned with minor details, rules, or formalism

  His pedantic corrections of everyone's grammar are tiresome.

Common in diplomatic/political reporting: "the Secretary of State met with his Russian opposite number."

• a person with the same job in another organization

  She met her opposite number from the French embassy.

"The customer is always right": common (but exaggerated) business motto. Distinct from "client" (often professional services) and "consumer" (economic term).

• a person who buys goods or services

  The customer wasn't satisfied with her meal.

American spelling. "Armored vehicle", "body armor", "plate armor". Figurative: "emotional armor", defensive demeanor.

• (US) protective covering

  The knight wore heavy armor.

British spelling. Same meaning as armor. "Suit of armour": common in fairy tales and medieval museums.

• (UK) protective covering

  The museum had a display of medieval armour.

• (US) covered with armor

  An armored vehicle pulled up.

• (UK) covered with armour

  An armoured car was used in the robbery.

On film sets, the armorer is responsible for weapons. "Rust" (2021) film: armorer convicted after fatal on-set shooting.

• (US) a person who makes or maintains weapons

  The armorer prepared the props.

• (UK) a person who makes or maintains weapons

  The royal armourer crafted the sword.

American spelling. National Guard armories in many US cities: large buildings, sometimes converted to event venues.

• (US) a place where weapons are stored

  The armory held thousands of rifles.

• (UK) a place where weapons are stored

  The castle's armoury was empty.

"Palestinian territories": West Bank and Gaza. Major ongoing conflict with Israel. "Palestinian Authority": semi-autonomous governing body.

• relating to Palestine or its people

  They discussed the Palestinian question.

• a person from Palestine or of Palestinian descent

  She is a Palestinian living in exile.

"Claim asylum", "claim responsibility", "insurance claim". "Stake a claim": original miners' usage, now figurative.

• to state as a fact, especially without proof

  He claims to be innocent.

• an assertion that something is true

  They made wild claims about the product.

"Foothills of the Rockies", "Himalayan foothills". Usually plural. Where mountain ranges meet plains.

• low hills at the base of mountains

  They camped in the foothills.

American spelling: analog. "Analog" (US) / "analogue" (UK) clocks: with hands, not digital. "Analog vs digital": major late-20th-century transition.

• something similar to another

  The drug has a natural analogue.

Always uses "like" or "as" ("sly as a fox"). Distinct from metaphor (which states it directly: "he is a fox").

• a comparison using "like" or "as"

  "Brave as a lion" is a simile.

Broader than simile/metaphor. Used in arguments and explanations: "The atom is like a tiny solar system", an extended analogy.

• a comparison made to show similarity

  He used an analogy to explain the concept.

More formal than "similar". Often used in scientific and analytical writing.

• comparable in certain respects

  The human eye is analogous to a camera.

Famous NGOs: Red Cross, Doctors Without Borders, Amnesty International, Greenpeace. Often acronym used standalone: "NGOs raised concerns".

• an organization independent of government

  The NGO provides aid to refugees.

Full form of NGO. Common in policy and academic writing. Distinguishes from IGOs (intergovernmental organizations like UN, EU).

• a non-profit citizen-based group operating independently of government

  The non-governmental organization sent observers.

From Latin "intra" (within) + "murus" (wall). "Intramural sports", common in US colleges: casual leagues for students, not competing against other schools.

• taking place within an institution

  He played intramural basketball in college.

From Latin "extra" (outside) + "murus". UK universities offered "extra-mural" courses to non-degree students; now usually called "continuing education".

• taking place outside an institution

  She took an extra-mural course in literature.

Often political: "government inaction on climate change". Implies blameworthy failure to act.

• failure to act

  His inaction was criticized.

"Inactive account": common in banking, social media. "Inactive ingredient", pharmaceuticals: not the active drug.

• not active or in use

  His account has been inactive for months.

Note spelling: not "ordinance" (which is a local law). "Unexploded ordnance" (UXO): major hazard in former conflict zones.

• military weapons and ammunition

  They found unexploded ordnance from WWII.

From French "échelon" (rung of a ladder). "Upper echelons": top leadership. Military: also formation pattern.

• a level of rank in an organization

  He rose to the upper echelons of the company.

British spelling: penalise. Sports: refereeing context. Legal/tax: "penalized for late payment". Often passive: "X was penalized".

• to subject to a penalty

  The team was penalized for unsportsmanlike conduct.

From Greek myth: Achilles was invulnerable except his heel, where Paris fatally shot him. "Achilles tendon": named for same myth (largest tendon in body).

• a single point of weakness

  His temper was his Achilles heel.

From "bunk" (nonsense). "Debunk a myth": common phrase. Sites like Snopes specialize in debunking misinformation.

• to expose the falseness of an idea or belief

  Scientists debunked the conspiracy theory.

"Skimp on": common construction. "Don't skimp on quality": business mantra. Implies inadequate amount.

• to provide too little of something

  Don't skimp on the ingredients.

"Skimpy outfit", "skimpy bikini": usually about clothing. "Skimpy details": figurative for insufficient information.

• too small in size or amount

  She wore a skimpy dress.

"Immobile": physical state; "immobile" can describe people, machines, vehicles. Antonym: mobile. Different from "immobilize" (active causing).

• not moving or able to move

  He stood immobile, watching.

Medical: "immobilize the limb" with a splint. Security: "immobilize the suspect". British spelling: immobilise.

• to prevent from moving

  They immobilized the broken leg.

Standard car security feature since the 1990s. Without the right key/key fob, engine won't start. Greatly reduced car theft.

• a device that prevents a vehicle from being started without a key

  All new cars come with an immobilizer.

"Derogatory term" / "derogatory remark": common in discussions of slurs and discriminatory language. From Latin "derogare" (lessen).

• showing a critical or disrespectful attitude

  He made derogatory comments about her work.

Family includes pumpkins, squash, cucumbers, watermelons. Hollowed dried gourds used as bowls, instruments, water containers. "Out of one's gourd", informal: crazy.

• a hard-shelled fruit used as a container

  The kids carved gourds for Halloween.

Don't confuse with "incident" (specific event). Epidemiology: "incidence" = new cases per period. "Prevalence" = total existing cases.

• the occurrence rate of something

  The incidence of measles has risen.

"Soft underbelly": Churchill's WWII description of Mediterranean Europe. Modern: "underbelly of society", drugs, crime, prostitution.

• the hidden, often unpleasant aspect of something

  The book reveals the underbelly of city politics.

"Seedy bar", "seedy neighborhood", "seedy hotel": common collocations. Origin: from "seed" (run-to-seed plants look unkempt).

• shabby, sleazy, or disreputable

  They met in a seedy bar.

From Latin "respectus" (looking back, consideration). "Brief respite from": common phrase. "Death-row inmate granted a respite": legal usage.

• a short rest or relief

  They had a brief respite from the heat.

Important for caregivers of disabled family members or aging parents: gives them temporary relief.

• short-term care that gives caregivers a break

  They arranged respite care for their elderly mother.

American /veɪs/; British often /vɑːz/. "Ming vases": extremely valuable Chinese porcelain. "Vase", also used metaphorically: "like a vase on a shelf".

• a decorative container for flowers

  She placed roses in the crystal vase.

From Greek "kokhlos" (spiral shell). Inner-ear spiral structure. "Cochlear implant": device for severe hearing loss.

• the spiral cavity of the inner ear

  The cochlea converts sound to nerve signals.

From Spanish, indigenous origin. Essential tool in tropical agriculture and clearing brush. Often associated with horror movies (Friday the 13th) and Rwandan genocide.

• a broad heavy knife

  He hacked through the jungle with a machete.

• a large area of land, or a part of a country or the world

  The southern region receives very little rain.

"Regional accent", "regional dish". Antonym: national. Often "regional bank", "regional manager": business hierarchy levels.

• relating to a particular region

  She speaks with a regional accent.