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 earthquake's epicenter was approximately 4 miles west of Cobb and occurred at a depth of 1 mile.
—
Ca Earthquake Bot, Sacbee.com, 25 Apr. 2026
Some City Council members inexplicably didn’t learn until Tuesday — as in less than 24 hours before the announcement — that the Royals had plans to make Crown Center their epicenter for a new downtown stadium rather than Washington Square Park.
—Sam McDowell, Kansas City Star, 23 Apr. 2026
Bardstown Bourbon Company is one of the best newer distilleries in Bardstown, the small enclave at the epicenter of Kentucky bourbon.
—Jonah Flicker, Robb Report, 23 Apr. 2026
The attack took place late on Tuesday in Pubagu, a community in a remote area on the fringes of Sambisa forest in Borno state, the epicenter of Nigeria's long fight against an Islamic insurgency.
—ABC News, 22 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for epicenter
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Ca Earthquake Bot, Sacbee.com, 25 Apr. 2026
Some City Council members inexplicably didn’t learn until Tuesday — as in less than 24 hours before the announcement — that the Royals had plans to make Crown Center their epicenter for a new downtown stadium rather than Washington Square Park.
—Sam McDowell, Kansas City Star, 23 Apr. 2026
Bardstown Bourbon Company is one of the best newer distilleries in Bardstown, the small enclave at the epicenter of Kentucky bourbon.
—Jonah Flicker, Robb Report, 23 Apr. 2026
The attack took place late on Tuesday in Pubagu, a community in a remote area on the fringes of Sambisa forest in Borno state, the epicenter of Nigeria's long fight against an Islamic insurgency.
—ABC News, 22 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for epicenter
Cite this Entry
“Epicenter.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/epicenter. Accessed 27 Apr. 2026.
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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