local

1 of 2

adjective

lo·​cal ˈlō-kəl 

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

Synonyms

Noun

• affiliate
• branch
• cell
• chapter
• council

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

This gives the company scope to reshuffle production and make more for the local market if U.S. President Donald Trump follows through on threats to impose tariffs of around 25% on vehicle imports. —Victoria Waldersee, USA TODAY, 22 Feb. 2025

The main one is Lizzie, a young journalist stuck on the wedding beat at the local paper, with obits thrown in as a sop to her demand for equality. —Jesse Green, New York Times, 21 Feb. 2025

Noun

Trinidad and Tobago In the two days before Ash Wednesday, this smaller celebration is world-famous despite being most popular with locals. —Ramsey Qubein, Forbes, 22 Feb. 2025

Montevideo, Uruguay: The nearly 14-mile waterside promenade La Rambla — One of the longest sidewalks in the world — serves as an outdoor living room for locals. —Danial Adkison, New York Times, 21 Feb. 2025

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

Phrases Containing local

• local anesthesia
• local area network
• local authority
• local celebrity
• local color
• local government
• local option
• local time

Rhymes for local

• cloacal
• focal
• sokol
• vocal
• confocal
• nonlocal
• multifocal
• univocal

Kids 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

-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 

: involving or affecting only a restricted part of the organism

local inflammation

compare systemic sense a

locally

-kə-lē 

adverb

local

2 of 2 noun

: local anesthetic

also : local anesthesia

Legal Definition

local

noun

lo·​cal

: local union