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

• axis
• base
• capital
• center
• central
• core
• cynosure
• epicenter
• eye
• focus
• ground zero
• heart
• hub
• mecca
• navel
• nerve center
• nexus
• nucleus
• omphalos
• seat

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

Thinking of potential loci of conflict, the Southern Hemisphere immediately appears a safer bet, with no countries on that side of the globe possessing nuclear weapons. —Steven Desmyter, Forbes, 28 Nov. 2024

Former COOs who’ve recently ascended to the chief executive locus include Netflix’s Greg Peters, Honeywell’s Vimal Kapur, Costco’s Ron Vachris, and Keurig Dr Pepper’s Tim Cofer. —Jason Ma, Fortune, 14 Oct. 2024

Structural divisions between competing data-governance models present a challenge for a plurilateral agreement on electronic commerce and may shift the locus for regulating digital trade elsewhere. —Pascal Lamy, Foreign Affairs, 9 June 2022

Novyi Put is 250 miles from the locus of Russia’s 33-month wider war on Ukraine around Kurakhove in eastern Ukraine’s Donetsk Oblast. —David Axe, Forbes, 4 Nov. 2024

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

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