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 of locus

• center
• hub
• capital
• mecca
• focus
• nucleus
• seat
• core

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

But on the Facebook Just in Time Broadway fan group, which has 7,700 members and seems to be the locus of Groffie fandom, the predominant tone is warm, almost giddy. —Alexandra Starr, Vulture, 27 Mar. 2026

The second floor, where bespoke shirts are made, is the store’s real locus. —Marisa Meltzer, Vanity Fair, 24 Mar. 2026

Kalanick is the latest tech boss to decamp to Texas from California’s technology locus. —Paul Flahive, Austin American Statesman, 17 Mar. 2026

Humans and golden retrievers were found to share common psychiatric-cognitive-temperamental loci. —Rafil Kroll-Zaidi, Harpers Magazine, 24 Feb. 2026

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