plural loci
ˈlō-ˌsī 
-ˌkī,
-ˌkē
1
b
: a center of activity, attention, or concentration
In democracy the locus of power is in the people.—
H. G. Rickover
H. G. Rickover2
: the set of all points whose location is determined by stated conditions
3
: the position in a chromosome of a particular gene or allele
Examples of locus in a Sentence
The area became a locus of resistance to the government.
an area of the Southwest that has been the locus of a number of New Agey movements
Recent Examples on the Web
The Churchill Suite peers over the Ministry of Defence (where Henry VIII’s wine cellar still lurks) and was the locus of military strategising.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 5 Apr. 2026
The weakening presidency The presidency of Mohammad Khatami, who was elected in 1997, demonstrated that the office could still function as a significant locus of power.
—Roxane Razavi, The Conversation, 2 Apr. 2026
The locus of energy in My Lover, the Rabbi is not plot but comical, unhinged prose and extensive, psychoanalytic character readings.
—Literary Hub, 2 Apr. 2026
But on the Facebook Just in Time Broadway fan group, which has 7,700 members and seems to be the locus of Groffie fandom, the predominant tone is warm, almost giddy.
—Alexandra Starr, Vulture, 27 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for locus
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 5 Apr. 2026
The weakening presidency The presidency of Mohammad Khatami, who was elected in 1997, demonstrated that the office could still function as a significant locus of power.
—Roxane Razavi, The Conversation, 2 Apr. 2026
The locus of energy in My Lover, the Rabbi is not plot but comical, unhinged prose and extensive, psychoanalytic character readings.
—Literary Hub, 2 Apr. 2026
But on the Facebook Just in Time Broadway fan group, which has 7,700 members and seems to be the locus of Groffie fandom, the predominant tone is warm, almost giddy.
—Alexandra Starr, Vulture, 27 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for locus
Cite this Entry
“Locus.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/locus. Accessed 11 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
Medical Definition
locus
noun
lo·cus
ˈlō-kəs
plural loci
ˈlō-ˌsī, -ˌkī also -ˌkē
1
: a place or site of an event, activity, or thing
the integrity of the tissues determines the extent and locus of the damage—Sylvia E. Hines
Sylvia E. Hines2
: the position in a chromosome of a particular gene or allele
Legal Definition
locus
noun
lo·cus
ˈlō-kəs
: the place connected with a particular event having legal significance
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
