locus

noun

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lo·cus | \ ˈlō-kəs

plural loci\ ˈlō-ˌsī

, -ˌkī , -ˌkē \

Definition of locus

1a : the place where something is situated or occurs : site, location was the culture of medicine in the beginning dispersed from a single focus or did it arise in several loci?— S. C. Harvey

b : a center of activity, attention, or concentration in democracy the locus of power is in the people— H. G. Rickover

2 : the set of all points whose location is determined by stated conditions

3 : the position in a chromosome of a particular gene or allele

Synonyms More Example Sentences Phrases Containing locus Learn More About locus

Examples of locus in a Sentence

The area became a locus of resistance to the government. an area of the Southwest that has been the locus of a number of New Agey movements

Recent Examples on the Web So that immigrant locus of identity will always be a big part of our population. — Harmeet Kaur, CNN, 1 Mar. 2022 In our area, the locus of shad fishing is the Susquehanna River complex, which includes Deer Creek on the western shore and the Octararo River on the eastern shore. — Bill May, Baltimore Sun, 25 Apr. 2022 This episode shows that, while the locus of global economic activity has been shifting eastward towards emerging market economies, the US dollar remains dominant in global finance. — Zachary B. Wolf, CNN, 12 Mar. 2022 For Witting, like so many others, the holiday’s locus is food. — Washington Post, 11 Feb. 2022 Disneyland, another locus of Southern California employment, with a pre-pandemic staff of 32,000, is set to reopen April 30 with limited attendance. — Ryan Faughnder, Los Angeles Times, 14 Apr. 2021 Far too many leaders have an external locus of control. — Rodger Dean Duncan, Forbes, 15 Mar. 2022 Her bookstore — a renovated and well-appointed barn with an English-language section in the former hayloft — exemplifies Redu’s last great evolution, from a farming community in decline to a locus of letters. — Washington Post, 26 Dec. 2021 The home becomes not only the locus of family life and pride, but also a source of funds in difficult times and a substantial inheritance for family members at the end of the homeowner’s life. — Frederick Peters, Forbes, 25 Jan. 2022 See More

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