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 property sits in the north San Gabriel Valley and is just 15 miles from downtown Los Angeles, the epicenter of the Games.
—
Tim Genske, Forbes.com, 24 Apr. 2025
All but one of the 26 people massacred were Indian citizens, prompting a new wave of unrest in a region claimed by both Pakistan and India and that has been the epicenter of often violent territorial struggle between the two countries.
—Sophia Saifi, CNN Money, 24 Apr. 2025
Coachella stands at the epicenter of global music culture — a world stage where performances reverberate far beyond the desert.
—Lee Trink, HollywoodReporter, 23 Apr. 2025
In April 2015, the streets of Baltimore became the epicenter of national outrage after Freddie Gray’s death from injuries sustained in police custody.
—Natasha Dartigue, Baltimore Sun, 23 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for epicenter
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Tim Genske, Forbes.com, 24 Apr. 2025
All but one of the 26 people massacred were Indian citizens, prompting a new wave of unrest in a region claimed by both Pakistan and India and that has been the epicenter of often violent territorial struggle between the two countries.
—Sophia Saifi, CNN Money, 24 Apr. 2025
Coachella stands at the epicenter of global music culture — a world stage where performances reverberate far beyond the desert.
—Lee Trink, HollywoodReporter, 23 Apr. 2025
In April 2015, the streets of Baltimore became the epicenter of national outrage after Freddie Gray’s death from injuries sustained in police custody.
—Natasha Dartigue, Baltimore Sun, 23 Apr. 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 5 May. 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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