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
Madison E. Goldberg, PEOPLE, 24 Oct. 2025
Donate today to preserve the quality and integrity of local journalism.
—Bill Bowden, Arkansas Online, 24 Oct. 2025
Emy Lacroix, PEOPLE, 29 Oct. 2025
The Snug Harbor project is the brainchild of surfer Adam Cleary, a third-generation Newport Beach local who became intrigued by wave pools after Kelly Slater unveiled the Surf Ranch a decade ago.
—Laylan Connelly, Oc Register, 29 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for local
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Adjective
Rescue crews including state police, the Grand Isle County Sheriff's Department, the Vermont Department of Fish and Wildlife, and others then began to search for the 71-year-old victim, according to local affiliate NBC5.
—Madison E. Goldberg, PEOPLE, 24 Oct. 2025
Donate today to preserve the quality and integrity of local journalism.
—Bill Bowden, Arkansas Online, 24 Oct. 2025
Noun
The locals believe she's possessed by a demon and attempt an exorcism.
—Emy Lacroix, PEOPLE, 29 Oct. 2025
The Snug Harbor project is the brainchild of surfer Adam Cleary, a third-generation Newport Beach local who became intrigued by wave pools after Kelly Slater unveiled the Surf Ranch a decade ago.
—Laylan Connelly, Oc Register, 29 Oct. 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 30 Oct. 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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