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
Recent Examples on the Web
Jasmine Desiree, Los Angeles Times, 22 Apr. 2025
Ensuring fair labor practices, supporting local communities, and fostering inclusive growth are integral to a truly sustainable supply chain.
—Richard Howells, Forbes.com, 22 Apr. 2025
Ross Rosenfeld, MSNBC Newsweek, 23 Apr. 2025
By 1994, Armenian forces had wrested control of Nagorno-Karabakh and some of the adjacent Azerbaijani territories, driving out locals.
—Foreign Affairs, 22 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for local
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Adjective
Today, the two-story adobe residence is a local, state and national historic landmark offering year-round exhibitions, educational programs and cultural events that explore the many identities of the West.
—Jasmine Desiree, Los Angeles Times, 22 Apr. 2025
Ensuring fair labor practices, supporting local communities, and fostering inclusive growth are integral to a truly sustainable supply chain.
—Richard Howells, Forbes.com, 22 Apr. 2025
Noun
Videos from the site showed locals helping to ferry the injured down on makeshift stretchers, as ambulances couldn't reach the meadow.
—Ross Rosenfeld, MSNBC Newsweek, 23 Apr. 2025
By 1994, Armenian forces had wrested control of Nagorno-Karabakh and some of the adjacent Azerbaijani territories, driving out locals.
—Foreign Affairs, 22 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for local
Cite this Entry
“Local.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/local. Accessed 2 May. 2025.
Copy CitationKids 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
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