local option

noun

Updated on: 18 Apr 2018

Definition of local option

: the power granted by a legislature to a political subdivision to determine by popular vote the local applicability of a law on a controversial issue (such as the sale of liquor)

Recent Examples of local option from the Web

The community in southern Jefferson County has long lacked a local option — or, really, any options — for residents wanting their caffeine fix.

— bailey loosemore, The Courier-Journal, "Highview gets 'a need in the area' – a new local coffee and ice cream shop," 5 Apr. 2018
Perry keeps a map in his office to track local options for medical care, and the next-closest OB ward is an hour away in Columbus.

— shefali luthra, Washington Post, "Medicaid Is Rural America’s Financial Midwife," 12 Mar. 2018
And prices are quite gentle compared to other local options – an impressive feat considering the top-notch quality of the meat.

— mark kurlyandchik, Detroit Free Press, "First Look: Lovers Only begins slinging burgers out of stylish Capitol Park digs Friday," 8 Mar. 2018
Another local option will be the Lake Bluff Farmers' Market, a longstanding Friday-morning tradition scheduled to start this year on June 8 and run through Oct. 12, according to the Lake Bluff's village website.

— daniel i. dorfman, chicagotribune.com, "Lake Forest cancels farmers market due to falling attendance, lower participation," 8 Mar. 2018
All other local options would be too small, except perhaps the new Butchertown stadium scheduled to be the home of Louisville City FC starting in 2020, the same year the XFL returns.

— jake lourim, The Courier-Journal, "Does Louisville have a chance at getting an XFL team? Don't get your hopes up," 2 Feb. 2018
Wine and beer lists include numerous local options.

— Howard County Times, "Howard County restaurant directory," 1 Mar. 2018
There’s something for every kind of beer fan, casual or serious, including lots of local options.

— kate washington, sacbee, "Food at this craft-beer Valhalla is better than it needs to be | The Sacramento Bee," 23 Feb. 2018
Alaska has never had a statewide sales tax; sales tax should remain only as a local option.

— carl benson, Alaska Dispatch News, "Keep budget solution simple; Alaska has been here before," 22 Oct. 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'local option.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.