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 situated roughly 2 miles west-northwest of Palomar Observatory, at a depth of just 3 miles.
—
Ca Earthquake Bot, Sacbee.com, 2 Nov. 2025
Health officials put the early death toll at 12, with more than 250 people injured, in Samangan province, near the epicenter.
—Masoud Popalzai, CNN Money, 2 Nov. 2025
In just a few days, a Karl Marx-quoting communist who has struggled to disavow Hamas is likely to be elected the next mayor of the nation's financial and cultural epicenter.
—MSNBC Newsweek, 31 Oct. 2025
Both candidates have focused on issues such as government transparency, housing, everyday affordability concerns in the pricey state, and energy systems, as the Garden State continues at the epicenter of the windmill debate.
—Molly Parks, The Washington Examiner, 30 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for epicenter
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Ca Earthquake Bot, Sacbee.com, 2 Nov. 2025
Health officials put the early death toll at 12, with more than 250 people injured, in Samangan province, near the epicenter.
—Masoud Popalzai, CNN Money, 2 Nov. 2025
In just a few days, a Karl Marx-quoting communist who has struggled to disavow Hamas is likely to be elected the next mayor of the nation's financial and cultural epicenter.
—MSNBC Newsweek, 31 Oct. 2025
Both candidates have focused on issues such as government transparency, housing, everyday affordability concerns in the pricey state, and energy systems, as the Garden State continues at the epicenter of the windmill debate.
—Molly Parks, The Washington Examiner, 30 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 7 Nov. 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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