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
: 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
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Recent Examples on the Web
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
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
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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
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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
Phrases Containing local
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.
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Kids Definition
local
1 of 2 adjective
lo·cal
ˈlō-kəl 
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
adverb
-kə-lē
local
2 of 2 noun1
: 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
: involving or affecting only a restricted part of the organism
local inflammation
compare systemic sense a
local
2 of 2 noun
: local anesthetic
also
: local anesthesia
Legal Definition
local
noun
lo·cal
More from Merriam-Webster on local
Nglish: Translation of local for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of local for Arabic Speakers
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