locus

noun

lo·​cus ˈlō-kəs 

plural loci ˈlō-ˌsī 

-ˌkī,

-ˌkē

1

a

: 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

• axis
• base
• capital
• center
• central
• core
• cynosure
• epicenter
• eye
• focus
• ground zero
• heart
• hub
• mecca
• navel
• nerve center
• nexus
• nucleus
• omphalos
• seat

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

This makes the locus of learning the campus and the workplace. —Bruno V. Manno, Forbes.com, 2 Apr. 2025

Aida would remain a locus of nonviolent resistance for the next two decades. —Ben Ehrenreich, Harpers Magazine, 26 Mar. 2025

There’s also a pedestrian-only block called Pearl Street that will be a locus of activity. —Matt Donnelly, Variety, 27 Mar. 2025

One of the alleles at each locus is dominant and determines the traits, like coat color, portrayed in the dog. —Tommy Tuberville, Newsweek, 6 Mar. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Latin — more at stall

First Known Use

1648, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing locus

• locus ceruleus
• locus classicus
• locus coeruleus

Rhymes for locus

• crocus
• focus
• hocus
• autofocus
• defocus
• refocus

Kids Definition

locus

noun

lo·​cus ˈlō-kəs 

plural loci ˈlō-ˌsī 

-ˌkī,

-ˌkē

1

: place entry 1 sense 3a, locality

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

Medical Definition

locus

noun

lo·​cus ˈlō-kəs 

plural loci

ˈlō-ˌsī, -ˌkī also -ˌkē

1

: a place or site of an event, activity, or thing

the integrity of the tissues determines the extent and locus of the damage

—Sylvia E. Hines

2

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

Legal Definition

locus

noun

lo·​cus ˈlō-kəs 

: the place connected with a particular event having legal significance