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
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.
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
The epicenter was located approximately 5 miles northwest of The Geysers, at a depth of just 1 mile.
—
Ca Earthquake Bot, Sacbee.com, 19 Oct. 2025
While audits and hand counts have shown that the state's election results are accurate, Colorado has been at the epicenter of false election claims.
—Bente Birkeland, NPR, 18 Oct. 2025
Coverage for a $5 million home in Pacific Palisades, which was at the epicenter of the Los Angeles fires, could cost $35,000 in annual premiums with Stand, Preston said.
—Bloomberg, Mercury News, 17 Oct. 2025
More news: 4 killed, a dozen injured in shooting after Mississippi homecoming game
Where did the shooting occur?
St. Helena Island, located about 40 miles north of Hilton Head Island, is known as the epicenter of a culture of people descended from African slaves known as Gullah Geechee.
—Taylor Ardrey, USA Today, 13 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for epicenter
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Ca Earthquake Bot, Sacbee.com, 19 Oct. 2025
While audits and hand counts have shown that the state's election results are accurate, Colorado has been at the epicenter of false election claims.
—Bente Birkeland, NPR, 18 Oct. 2025
Coverage for a $5 million home in Pacific Palisades, which was at the epicenter of the Los Angeles fires, could cost $35,000 in annual premiums with Stand, Preston said.
—Bloomberg, Mercury News, 17 Oct. 2025
More news: 4 killed, a dozen injured in shooting after Mississippi homecoming game
Where did the shooting occur?
St. Helena Island, located about 40 miles north of Hilton Head Island, is known as the epicenter of a culture of people descended from African slaves known as Gullah Geechee.
—Taylor Ardrey, USA Today, 13 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for epicenter
Cite this Entry
“Epicenter.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/epicenter. Accessed 24 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationKids 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
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