local

1 of 2

adjective

lo·​cal ˈlō-kəl How to pronounce local (audio)
1
: characterized by or relating to position in space : having a definite spatial form or location
2
a
: of, relating to, or characteristic of a particular place : not general or widespread
b
: of, relating to, or applicable to part of a whole
3
a
: 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

2 of 2

noun

: 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

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 See More
Recent Examples on the Web
Adjective
According to the Bureau of Prisons, the inmate was taken to a local hospital for further evaluation and treatment. Adam Sabes, Fox News, 25 Nov. 2023 Watch live local and out of market games and (with the premium subscription) replays. Chris Morris, Fortune, 24 Nov. 2023 At least three colleges have restricted their local chapters’ activities. Daniel Arkin, NBC News, 24 Nov. 2023 Since the recent earthquakes, the general consensus in Morocco appears to be a resounding, whole-hearted invitation for the world to come visit: tourism dollars are more crucial than ever in driving on-the-ground economies and supporting local jobs. Todd Plummer, Vogue, 24 Nov. 2023 Watch The Grio Awards on TV through your local CBS affiliate. Tim Chan, The Hollywood Reporter, 24 Nov. 2023 Asher bids on a distressed property, as part of his and Whitney’s plan to use the show to make a killing in local real estate. Alan Sepinwall, Rolling Stone, 24 Nov. 2023 This is the program’s 19th year in the area, and coordinators hope to collect gifts for 300 local seniors. Linda McIntosh, San Diego Union-Tribune, 22 Nov. 2023 Both creatures are viewed as hard to find, according to the local folklore, but locating both is seen to symbolize the end of conflict. Michael Lee, Fox News, 12 Nov. 2023
Noun
Here, four locals take on the plum assignment of picking their favorite stops in the city many lovingly dub Sacratomato. Leilani Marie Labong, WSJ, 24 Nov. 2023 On the town's website is a Christmas countdown, and locals leave decorations up on their homes and storefronts, no matter the season. Madison Roberts, Peoplemag, 24 Nov. 2023 Petrified locals started guarding their villages at night. Parth M.n., WIRED, 23 Nov. 2023 After former First Lady Rosalynn Carter died at home in Plains, Georgia, locals remembered her kindness and passion for their community. Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 22 Nov. 2023 Once a year, locals meet to give the walls a fresh lick of paint, making the water appear lazuline. Freya Bromley, Condé Nast Traveler, 21 Nov. 2023 And the good news for locals is that at least the next ones won't require months of road work in the run-up. Jonathan M. Gitlin, Ars Technica, 20 Nov. 2023 Thirty-two percent of locals did not have enough to eat in 2023, the report said, compared to 33 percent in 2022. Danny Nguyen, Washington Post, 20 Nov. 2023 For a thousand years, locals have tamed the cliffs by terracing them with stone walls from top to bottom. Julia Buckley, Travel + Leisure, 18 Nov. 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'local.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Middle English localle, from Late Latin localis, from Latin locus place — more at stall

First Known Use

Adjective

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 4

Noun

1591, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of local was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near local

Cite this Entry

“Local.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/local. Accessed 7 Dec. 2023.

Kids Definition

local

1 of 2 adjective
lo·​cal ˈlō-kəl How to pronounce local (audio)
1
: of or relating to position in space
2
: relating to a particular place
local news
a local custom
3
: serving the needs of a certain district
local government
4
: involving or affecting only a small part of the body
a local infection
locally
-kə-lē
adverb

local

2 of 2 noun
1
: a public vehicle (as a bus or train) that makes all of the stops or most of the stops along its route
2
: a local branch (as of a lodge or labor union)

Medical Definition

local

1 of 2 adjective
lo·​cal ˈlō-kəl How to pronounce local (audio)
: involving or affecting only a restricted part of the organism
local inflammation
compare systemic sense a
locally adverb

local

2 of 2 noun

Legal Definition

local

noun
lo·​cal

More from Merriam-Webster on local

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