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

• 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

In this new world, in theory, Chicago would no longer be the main locus of moving cars from one railroad to another. —The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 1 Aug. 2025

Then after World War II, the feds turned over to UT a closed magnesium plant north of town that became a research center and the locus of Austin's high tech boom. —Michael Barnes, Austin American Statesman, 2 July 2025

Now an influx of investment dollars, along with coastal transplants since the pandemic, has helped turn downtown into a thriving locus of cultural, gastronomic, and commercial energy. —Ryan Krogh, Outside Online, 3 June 2025

So, there’s the concept of locus of control that factors in here. —Chris "bulldog" Collins, Forbes.com, 18 June 2025

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