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

The earthquake's epicenter was located approximately 6 miles east-southeast of Black Point-Green Point and occurred at a depth of 8 miles. —Ca Earthquake Bot, Sacbee.com, 11 Mar. 2026

The epicenter of the shaving world won’t be moving far. —Lance Reynolds, Boston Herald, 10 Mar. 2026

The Bay Area has long been an epicenter for the disease on the West Coast because of its ports and as an immigration checkpoint for migrants from places such as Asia and Latin America. —Chase Hunter, Mercury News, 9 Mar. 2026

Schools are closed due to immigration raids, and the city is quickly transforming into the epicenter of a national crisis. —Lale Arikoglu, Condé Nast Traveler, 8 Mar. 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
• tenter
• dissenter
• 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