local

1 of 2

adjective

lo·​cal ˈlō-kəl How to pronounce local (audio)
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

local

2 of 2

noun

: 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
Adjective
The juvenile was taken a local hospital for non-life-threatening injuries and was then transported to the Juvenile Detention Center, where he was booked in connection with being a juvenile in possession of a firearm, Mauk said. Nwa Democrat-Gazette, arkansasonline.com, 16 Mar. 2024 By adding a full cent, a city doubles the local take from 1 percent to 2 percent of all sales. David Garrick, San Diego Union-Tribune, 16 Mar. 2024 Brokers will also be required to sign a buyer’s broker agreement directly with clients and not be required to sign up for multiple local MLS sites. Hadley Meares, The Hollywood Reporter, 16 Mar. 2024 Once reported, local law enforcement can either take that person into protective custody or order a mental health evaluation from a medical expert. Charna Flam, Peoplemag, 16 Mar. 2024 Related article The 6% commission on buying or selling a home is gone after Realtors association agrees to seismic settlement One new rule prohibits agents’ compensation from being included on listings on local portals known as multiple listing services. Anna Bahney, CNN, 15 Mar. 2024 There are several locations throughout Maui and Oahu, each with local craft brews and live music. Carly Caramanna, Travel + Leisure, 15 Mar. 2024 Leavenworth is in so many ways a historical landmark, and a source of pride for active-duty soldiers, veterans, and the local community. Eric Adler, Kansas City Star, 4 Mar. 2024 She was sent to a local hospital in nearby Dearborn, Mich., and treated there before being returned to her family, MSP said. Samira Asma-Sadeque, Peoplemag, 4 Mar. 2024
Noun
Later, the same Ukrainian official reported locals hearing a second explosion in the city, also outside a building scheduled for use as a polling station. Andrew Carey, CNN, 16 Mar. 2024 The lone pub in Twin Peaks where everyone gets together to gossip, side-eye each other, and carry on torrid affairs is technically called The Bang Bang Bar, but locals call it The Roadhouse. Katie Rife, EW.com, 16 Mar. 2024 Then the Hapsburgs made the comforting practice their own, wooing locals with the striking, labyrinthine Széchenyi and Gellért complexes that continue to draw travelers from all over the world. Alia Akkam, Condé Nast Traveler, 14 Mar. 2024 Olson said she was reassured when Continuum hired two locals as the facility’s new administrator and nursing director. Harris Meyer, Fortune, 12 Mar. 2024 Tuesday is election day in Tempe and the last chance for residents to cast a vote for three City Council positions, the mayor's seat and a controversial new growth plan for the city that has divided locals over concerns about potential overdevelopment. Sam Kmack, The Arizona Republic, 12 Mar. 2024 After the joint discussions on pension and health, IATSE is expected to begin bargaining the Basic Agreement, which affects 13 West Coast locals. Gene Maddaus, Variety, 5 Mar. 2024 Hundreds of thousands of them now toil in South Korea, typically in small factories, or on remote farms or fishing boats — jobs that locals consider too dirty, dangerous or low-paying. Choe Sang-Hun, New York Times, 2 Mar. 2024 The pair are shown enjoying a quiet getaway in a small town during a road trip for their five-year anniversary — albeit, with the town's locals giving them odd looks — when a child knocks at their door, asking for a woman named Tamara. Tommy McArdle, Peoplemag, 1 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.

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Middle English localle, from Late Latin localis, from Latin locus place — more at stall

First Known Use

Adjective

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 4

Noun

1591, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of local was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near local

Cite this Entry

“Local.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/local. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

local

1 of 2 adjective
lo·​cal ˈlō-kəl How to pronounce local (audio)
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
-kə-lē
adverb

local

2 of 2 noun
1
: 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 How to pronounce local (audio)
: involving or affecting only a restricted part of the organism
local inflammation
compare systemic sense a
locally adverb

local

2 of 2 noun

Legal Definition

local

noun
lo·​cal

More from Merriam-Webster on local

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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