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
Richard Wilson, Detroit Free Press, 21 Apr. 2024
In 1974, Dawn had left Marty and began dating another local man.
—Stayton Bonner, Rolling Stone, 21 Apr. 2024
North County, though, faces its own critical moment with local health care services as both Tri-City, and neighboring Palomar Health, are currently weathering severe financial headwinds.
—Paul Sisson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 21 Apr. 2024
Epic Flight Academy opens its local school at Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport on Monday, promising starting wages of $20-$25 an hour for graduates.
—The Enquirer, 21 Apr. 2024
Working with local funeral directors, Banks shares in The Star the stories of recently deceased, everyday Black citizens who made a difference in their communities.
—The Star’s Leadership Team, Kansas City Star, 21 Apr. 2024
Some local leaders, including the police, say that a controversial statewide measure aimed at decriminalizing drug possession led to an addiction crisis.
—Abbie Vansickle, New York Times, 20 Apr. 2024
The security guard who was hit was taken to a local hospital, where he was treated and released, according to police.
—Ron Wood, arkansasonline.com, 9 Apr. 2024
Okereke stars in the series opposite a young local ensemble including Gaosi Raditholo, Carmen Pretorius, Richard Gau, Tarryn Wyngaard and Danica Jones.
—Elsa Keslassy, Variety, 9 Apr. 2024
Mitti Hicks, Essence, 10 Apr. 2024
Selling the day’s catches to locals unearths more information about each area’s troubled past, but darkness ushers in the night’s worrisome eldritch horrors.
—Katcy Stephan, Variety, 9 Apr. 2024
Jim and Kim Cooper had come over from New Hampton, New Hampshire, their first time doing more than just driving through the town locals call St. Jays.
—Karen Weintraub, USA TODAY, 9 Apr. 2024
Evidence of the locals’ craftsmanship can still be found in surprising ways.
—Jacqui Gifford, Travel + Leisure, 9 Apr. 2024
Hellerstein estimates only about 5% of the museum’s visitors are locals.
—Kyle Newman, The Denver Post, 7 Apr. 2024
Shelby Park was once a popular spot for locals to play soccer or walk their dogs along the Rio Grande.
—Henry Gass, The Christian Science Monitor, 5 Apr. 2024
And even then, it’s been obscured underneath layers of seaweed — a cash crop harvested by locals.
—Brendan Rascius, Miami Herald, 5 Apr. 2024
So far, the studios have reached tentative deals with the locals that represent sound technicians, camera operators and cinematographers, hair and makeup artists, grips, art directors and set painters.
—Gene Maddaus, Variety, 29 Mar. 2024
Adjective
The mural was commissioned as part of the 2023 Street Art for Mankind project, plagued with problems at City Hall because the artists hired weren't local, resulting in protest across the Detroit artist community.
—Richard Wilson, Detroit Free Press, 21 Apr. 2024
In 1974, Dawn had left Marty and began dating another local man.
—Stayton Bonner, Rolling Stone, 21 Apr. 2024
North County, though, faces its own critical moment with local health care services as both Tri-City, and neighboring Palomar Health, are currently weathering severe financial headwinds.
—Paul Sisson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 21 Apr. 2024
Epic Flight Academy opens its local school at Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport on Monday, promising starting wages of $20-$25 an hour for graduates.
—The Enquirer, 21 Apr. 2024
Working with local funeral directors, Banks shares in The Star the stories of recently deceased, everyday Black citizens who made a difference in their communities.
—The Star’s Leadership Team, Kansas City Star, 21 Apr. 2024
Some local leaders, including the police, say that a controversial statewide measure aimed at decriminalizing drug possession led to an addiction crisis.
—Abbie Vansickle, New York Times, 20 Apr. 2024
The security guard who was hit was taken to a local hospital, where he was treated and released, according to police.
—Ron Wood, arkansasonline.com, 9 Apr. 2024
Okereke stars in the series opposite a young local ensemble including Gaosi Raditholo, Carmen Pretorius, Richard Gau, Tarryn Wyngaard and Danica Jones.
—Elsa Keslassy, Variety, 9 Apr. 2024
Noun
The latter is a staple for locals and visitors alike, as it’s known for having the best croissants outside of France.
—Mitti Hicks, Essence, 10 Apr. 2024
Selling the day’s catches to locals unearths more information about each area’s troubled past, but darkness ushers in the night’s worrisome eldritch horrors.
—Katcy Stephan, Variety, 9 Apr. 2024
Jim and Kim Cooper had come over from New Hampton, New Hampshire, their first time doing more than just driving through the town locals call St. Jays.
—Karen Weintraub, USA TODAY, 9 Apr. 2024
Evidence of the locals’ craftsmanship can still be found in surprising ways.
—Jacqui Gifford, Travel + Leisure, 9 Apr. 2024
Hellerstein estimates only about 5% of the museum’s visitors are locals.
—Kyle Newman, The Denver Post, 7 Apr. 2024
Shelby Park was once a popular spot for locals to play soccer or walk their dogs along the Rio Grande.
—Henry Gass, The Christian Science Monitor, 5 Apr. 2024
And even then, it’s been obscured underneath layers of seaweed — a cash crop harvested by locals.
—Brendan Rascius, Miami Herald, 5 Apr. 2024
So far, the studios have reached tentative deals with the locals that represent sound technicians, camera operators and cinematographers, hair and makeup artists, grips, art directors and set painters.
—Gene Maddaus, Variety, 29 Mar. 2024
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.
Dictionary Entries Near local
Cite this Entry
“Local.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/local. Accessed 24 Apr. 2024.
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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