local

play

adjective lo·cal \ ˈlō-kəl \

Definition of local

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

See local defined for English-language learners

See local defined for kids

Examples of local in a Sentence

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.

Recent Examples of local from the Web

For instance, some phone companies have towers in places where local regulations might forbid fuel tanks and generators.

— todd shields, Bloomberg.com, "Harvey Knockout of Cell Service Revives Talk of Backup Power," 30 Aug. 2017
The weekly family-friendly community festival boasts a lineup of local food trucks and music, plus kids' activities including bounce houses, at Tamiami Park, 11201 SW 24th St., Miami.

— jennifer jhon, South Florida Parenting, "What to do with the kids this weekend: Free zoo, bowling and crafts events," 30 Aug. 2017
Local chain Gallery Furniture opened its doors to Harvey victims, providing shelter and food.

— sarah klein, Health.com, "12 Houston Pictures That Have Broken Our Hearts (And Restored Them)," 30 Aug. 2017
Totals have yet to come in from other youth groups selling tickets in advance, another way the Kiwanians help local organizations since the sellers get to keep half of the ticket prices.

— elizabeth marie himchak, Rancho Bernardo, "Kiwanians to hold 49th annual pancake breakfast on Saturday," 30 Aug. 2017
So far, the local agency has received donations upwards of $200,000 but the number keeps rising.

— debbi baker, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Hurricane Harvey: Anonymous donor pledges $1 million to match San Diegans' donations," 30 Aug. 2017
Local governments were trying to find ways to incorporate [white Americans] into the job market, and so the solution was [to get] rid of Mexican people because they’re not real Americans.

— araceli cruz, Teen Vogue, "Mexican Repatriation During the Great Depression, Explained," 30 Aug. 2017
Four local vendors will have concessions available including Brass Tap, Burger 21, Rocco Vino's and Isn't That Sweet.

— Daily Southtown, "Orland Park wraps summer concert series Sunday," 30 Aug. 2017
An attorney for landowner/developer Dwight Avram has asked Naperville to delay city meetings on the local landmark application and variance request for the old Nichols Library.

— erin hegarty, Naperville Sun, "Developer wants delay on old Nichols landmark, variance meetings," 30 Aug. 2017

These 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.

Origin and Etymology of local

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

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 15th century

See Words from the same year

local

noun

Definition of local

: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

See local defined for English-language learners

Examples of local in a Sentence

He's the president of the union local at the factory.
the truck drivers are members of Local 349 of the Teamsters' Union

Recent Examples of local from the Web

Locals treasure them, and break them out on special occasions.

— rick steves, The Seattle Times, "Rick Steves: How to become a Bavarian at Oktoberfest," 29 Aug. 2017
The next position to have an impact in the majors could be catcher with 10 locals playing the position in the minors. Garrett Stubbs (Torrey Pines/USC) and Alex Jackson (Rancho Bernardo) are banging on the big-league door.

— john maffei, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Minor league report: Local catchers moving up," 29 Aug. 2017
The high tourist season is behind us here along the Alabama Gulf Coast and in neighboring Pensacola Beach and Perdido Key on the Florida side, which means the locals are emerging from their beach bungalows.

— lee roop | lroop@al.com, AL.com, "Vulcan Materials, historic Birmingham redevelopment in AL.com business news," 28 Aug. 2017
The Ozark locals regard them with a sense of suspicion and sanctimony.

— max londberg, kansascity, "Dark rituals? Orgies? See the reality of a hippie commune deep in Missouri’s Bible Belt," 27 Aug. 2017
Locals in Barceloneta staged beachside protests, unspooling floating signs in the Mediterranean as a reminder to visitors and officials alike that this is their neighborhood, too.

— annabelle timsit, The Atlantic, "Spanish Anti-Tourists and North Korean Defectors: The Week in Global-Affairs Writing," 25 Aug. 2017
Amsterdam, Barcelona, and Dubrovnik have all taken steps to curb tourism, seeing it as a burden on locals rather than a bastion of economic opportunity.

— Bloomberg.com, "Your Evening Briefing," 24 Aug. 2017
Who Should Go: As the evening wore on, the who’s-who of South Beach locals who frequent other hip spots like Sweet Liberty and Basement started filling in.

— carlos frías, miamiherald, "We rated 11 favorite Miami Spice restaurants so you don’t have to," 23 Aug. 2017
This angered some of the locals, who believe the 130 million gallons the company currently pumps is already harming the environment.

— taysha murtaugh, Country Living, "Why People Are Calling Poland Spring Water "A Colossal Fraud"," 18 Aug. 2017

First Known Use of local

1591

local Synonyms

Synonyms

affiliate, branch, cell, council, chapter

Related Words

arm, division, wing; offshoot, subchapter; lodge, post

Near Antonyms

excursionist, sightseer, traveler (or traveller); holidayer, vacationer, vacationist

LOCAL Defined for English Language Learners

local

play

adjective

Definition of local for English Language Learners

: 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

noun

Definition of local for English Language Learners

: 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
: a local part of a labor union

LOCAL Defined for Kids

local

play

adjective lo·cal \ ˈlō-kəl \

Definition of local for Students

:of, in, or relating to a particular place

local kids

local business

local news

—

locally

adverb

local

noun

Definition of local for Students

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

Medical Dictionary

local

play

adjective lo·cal \ ˈlō-kəl \

medical Definition of local

:involving or affecting only a restricted part of the organism

local inflammation

— compare systemic a

—

locally

play \-kə-lē\ adverb

local

noun

medical Definition of local

:local anesthetic; also :local anesthesia

Law Dictionary

local

noun lo·cal

legal Definition of local

:local union

Learn More about local

See words that rhyme with local Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for local Spanish Central: Translation of local Nglish: Translation of local for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of local for Arabic speakers

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Definition of local

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Examples of local in a Sentence

Recent Examples of local from the Web

Origin and Etymology of local

local

Definition of local

Examples of local in a Sentence

Recent Examples of local from the Web

First Known Use of local

local Synonyms

Synonyms

Related Words

Near Antonyms

Phrases Related to LOCAL

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LOCAL Defined for English Language Learners

local

Definition of local for English Language Learners

local

Definition of local for English Language Learners

LOCAL Defined for Kids

local

Definition of local for Students

locally

local

Definition of local for Students

Medical Dictionary

local

medical Definition of local

locally

local

medical Definition of local

Law Dictionary

local

legal Definition of local

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