hot spot

noun

variants or less commonly hotspot

ˈhät-ˌspät 

plural hot spots also hotspots

1

: a place of more than usual interest, activity, or popularity

birding hot spots

2

: a place in the upper mantle of the earth at which hot magma from the lower mantle upwells to melt through the crust usually in the interior of a tectonic plate to form a volcanic feature

also : a place in the crust overlying a hot spot

3

a

: an area of political, military, or civil unrest usually considered dangerous

global hot spots

b

: a place or area (such as a city or region of a country) where there is an elevated prevalence or increased transmission risk of a disease

The city became a COVID-19 hot spot.

4

: a place where a wireless Internet connection is available

5

: an inflamed patch of moist infected skin on a domestic animal and especially a dog

Examples of hot spot in a Sentence

The new restaurant is the latest hot spot in town.

This part of the country is a hot spot of rebel activity.

Recent Examples on the Web

And Senator Kim said on Friday that federal drone detecting devices that had been put in place in hot spots in recent weeks had not detected any drones. —Michael Wilson, New York Times, 24 Dec. 2024

More from Personal Finance: Paying down debt is Americans’ top financial goal for 2025 There’s a higher 401(k) limit for 2025 These are the top 10 ‘housing hot spots’ for 2025 The maximum payment will be $1,400 per individual and will vary based on circumstances, according to the IRS. —Lorie Konish, CNBC, 23 Dec. 2024

The social media star took to Snapchat Friday, December 20 and 21 to share festive pics in front of a glittering Christmas tree before heading to New York City for a date night at one of Dunne's favorite hot spots, Carbone. —Gord Magill, Newsweek, 21 Dec. 2024

Experts are studying the new landscape to learn what has worked well — and what innovative strategies might be useful in the new hot spots. —Gabrielle Emanuel, NPR, 19 Dec. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1887, in the meaning defined at sense 3a

Kids Definition

hot spot

noun

1

: a place of more than normal interest, activity, or popularity

surfing hot spots

2

: a place where hot magma from the earth's interior rises through the mantle and crust to form a volcanic feature

3

a

: an area of political, military, or civil unrest usually considered dangerous

b

: a place where a disease is especially prevalent

4

: a place where a wireless Internet connection is available

Medical Definition

hot spot

noun

variants also hotspot

ˈhät-ˌspät 

1

: a patch of painful moist inflamed skin on a domestic animal and especially a dog that starts as a response to a skin irritant (as an allergen or an insect or tick bite), that is rapidly worsened by scratching, chewing, or licking the affected area, and that may become seriously infected if not promptly cleaned and medicated

2

: a place or area (as a city or region of a country) where there is an elevated prevalence or an increased transmission risk of a disease (as cholera, diabetes, or malaria)

3

: a site in genetic material (as DNA or a chromosome) having a high frequency of mutation or recombination