epicenter

noun

epi·​cen·​ter ˈe-pi-ˌsen-tər 

1

: the part of the earth's surface directly above the focus of an earthquake compare hypocenter sense 1

2

: center sense 2a

the epicenter of world finance

epicentral

ˌe-pi-ˈsen-trəl 

adjective

Did you know?

The meaning of epi- in epicenter is "over", so the epicenter of an earthquake lies over the center or "focus" of the quake. Epicenter can also refer to the centers of things that may seem in their own way as powerful—though not as destructive—as earthquakes. Wall Street, for example, might be said to lie at the epicenter of the financial world.

Synonyms of epicenter

• center
• mecca
• hub
• capital

Examples of epicenter in a Sentence

by continually reinventing itself, Las Vegas has managed to remain a national epicenter for entertainment

Recent Examples on the Web

So the Nineties theme looked like a way to remind the new corporate bosses of why MTV used to rule as the musical epicenter of pop culture. — Rob Sheffield, Rolling Stone, 28 Sep. 2026

Vogue Runway The epicenter of runway news, street style, and emerging trends. — Amy Verner, Vogue, 28 Sep. 2026

The epicenter was roughly 20 miles northeast of Redway, at a depth of 19 miles. — Ca Earthquake Bot, Sacbee.com, 27 Sep. 2026

Place Vendôme is an epicenter of fine and couture jewelry, and home to brands including Boucheron, Van Cleef & Arpels, Cartier and Chaumet, many of which have had a presence there since the late 19th century. — Samantha Conti, Footwear News, 25 Sep. 2026

Word History

Etymology

New Latin epicentrum, from epi- + Latin centrum center

First Known Use

1880, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for epicenter

• multicenter
• center
• centre
• enter
• renter
• stentor
• dissenter
• frequenter
• indenter
• inventor
• precentor
• preventer

Kids Definition

epicenter

noun

epi·​cen·​ter ˈep-i-ˌsent-ər 

: the part of the earth's surface directly above the starting point of an earthquake