lo·cal | \ ˈlō-kəl 
\
\Definition of local
(Entry 1 of 2)
1 : characterized by or relating to position in space : having a definite spatial form or location
2a : of, relating to, or characteristic of a particular place : not general or widespread
b : of, relating to, or applicable to part of a whole
3a : primarily serving the needs of a particular limited district
b of a public conveyance : making all the stops on a route
4 : involving or affecting only a restricted part of the organism : topical a local anesthetic
5 : of or relating to telephone communication within a specified area
local
nounDefinition of local (Entry 2 of 2)
: a local person or thing: such as
a : a local public conveyance (such as a train or an elevator)
b : a local or particular branch, lodge, or chapter of an organization (such as a labor union)
c British : a nearby or neighborhood pub
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Examples of local in a Sentence
Adjective
We had dinner at a local restaurant.
The police have arrested a local man for the crime.
This is a local shop for local people: we don't get many outsiders here.
She took the local bus. Noun
He's the president of the union local at the factory.
the truck drivers are members of Local 349 of the Teamsters' Union
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Recent Examples on the Web: Adjective Amendment 5: Payments instead of Property Taxes To give manufacturers and local governments the option to schedule payments instead of property taxes for industrial expansions.
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Staff Report, NOLA.com, "Planning to vote early? See what's on the Nov. 3 ballot in the New Orleans area," 9 Oct. 2020 The final details would be up to local governments and the Legislature.
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oregonlive, "Here is how the 2 candidates running for Oregon secretary of state say they’d do the job," 9 Oct. 2020 The Ocean Cleanup is working with the local governments and communities to help retrieve the plastic the Interceptors collect.
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Christopher Dawson, CNN, "A Dutch inventor is cleaning the world's most polluted rivers in an effort to save the oceans," 9 Oct. 2020 Federal agencies like the National Weather Service and local governments use a system called Wireless Emergency Alerts to communicate with most cell phones.
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Anna Kramer, SFChronicle.com, "Technology and apps you need when an earthquake or fire strikes the Bay Area," 9 Oct. 2020 Mining companies provided local governments with tax payments, royalty checks and contributions to civic projects.
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Alexander Osipovich, WSJ, "There’s No Oil in Wisconsin. The Fracking Bust Hit It Anyway.," 8 Oct. 2020 The governor blamed a lack of enforcement of his virus restrictions by local governments, along with mass gatherings.
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Henry Goldman, Bloomberg.com, "N.Y. Recovery Stumbles as Cuomo, De Blasio Feud Over Hot Spots," 7 Oct. 2020 Civil rights organizations and local governments worry that the census cut corners and relied on counting methods that will hurt the census' accuracy, in order to finish the count more quickly.
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Sarah Volpenhein, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "After the Census is told to keep counting, some census workers told work is over," 7 Oct. 2020 The World Health Organization has set a benchmark of 5 percent for local governments to safely reopen businesses.
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NBC News, "Florida NFL teams sticking to small crowds, despite state allowing them to pack the house," 7 Oct. 2020 Recent Examples on the Web: Noun Ardern noted that 60% of New Zealand's tourism industry comes from locals.
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Michelle Toh, CNN, "New Zealand's prime minister floats 'four-day week' as a way to help the economy," 21 May 2020 MacRae thinks city boat tours will pick up ahead of upscale dinner cruises, especially from locals and regional visitors sticking closer to home.
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Dawn Gilbertson, USA TODAY, "Is coronavirus canceling summer vacation for 2020? It depends who you ask," 21 May 2020 And Lapidus says the outpouring of support from locals has been an invaluable gift.
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Chevaz Clarke, CBS News, "Hero by night: Moonlighting as an EMT on New York City's front lines," 14 May 2020 The complaints represent more than 20,000 workers from 40 union locals, union spokesman Andrew Crook said.
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NBC News, "Thousands of health care workers demand investigation of hospitals' coronavirus response," 28 Apr. 2020 Trident is the oldest café on Boulder’s downtown Pearl Street, but without foot traffic from locals and University of Colorado students, its owners have had to pivot the business online.
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Theresa Machemer, Smithsonian Magazine, "Local Bookstores Offer ‘Mystery Bags’ of Quarantine Reading," 16 Apr. 2020 Instead of stocking up at the liquor store, order directly from locals to help them out.
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Alex Darus, cleveland, "How to support Greater Cleveland restaurants, food businesses from home," 12 Apr. 2020 The international assembled a crisis response committee of leaders from locals around the country.
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James Bandler, ProPublica, "Inside the Union Where Coronavirus Put 98% of Members Out of Work," 9 Apr. 2020 Bloomberg News Mask-wearing, common in Asia, spreads in the West
PARIS — Until a few weeks ago, Asian tourists were the only mask wearers in Paris, eliciting puzzlement or suspicion from locals or even hostility.
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BostonGlobe.com, "Warnings multiply against Easter holiday travel, gatherings," 9 Apr. 2020
See MoreThese example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'local.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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More Definitions for local
local
adjectiveEnglish Language Learners Definition of local
(Entry 1 of 2)
: relating to or occurring in a particular area, city, or town
: located or living nearby
of a bus or train : making all the stops on a route
local
nounEnglish Language Learners Definition of local (Entry 2 of 2)
: a person who lives in a particular area, city, or town : a local person
: a train or bus that makes all of the stops along its route
US : a local part of a labor union
See the full definition for local in the English Language Learners Dictionary
local
adjectivelo·cal | \ ˈlō-kəl \
\Kids Definition of local
(Entry 1 of 2)
: of, in, or relating to a particular place
local kids local business local news
local
nounKids Definition of local (Entry 2 of 2)
1 : a public vehicle (as a bus or train) that makes all or most stops on its run
2 : a branch (as of a lodge or labor union) in a particular place
local
adjectivelo·cal | \ ˈlō-kəl \
\Medical Definition of local
(Entry 1 of 2)
: involving or affecting only a restricted part of the organism
local inflammation — compare systemic sense a
Other Words from local
locally \ -kə-lē \ adverb
\ adverblocal
nounMedical Definition of local (Entry 2 of 2)
: local anesthetic also : local anesthesia
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local
nounlo·cal
Legal Definition of local
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Time Traveler for local
The first known use of local was in the 15th century
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