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

More than a third of Sedona’s homes have become short-term rentals, and the city government and other local agencies have become consumed with how to manage the influx of visitors—and how to infuse education on respectful public land use. —Erin Strout, Outside Online, 11 Nov. 2024

Expected to be open by October 2025, Ainsley’s Spout House will feature local craft beers and wine from the Santa Cruz Mountains, including Ainsley’s pinot noir with grapes grown and bottled by Alan Ainsley Hicks, great-grandson of John Colpitts (JC) Ainsley. —Anne Gelhaus, The Mercury News, 10 Nov. 2024

Noun

Of note: If priors years are any indication, the results for the rest of the races of locals' ballots — Senate, U.S. House, Richmond City Council and Richmond School Board — should be in on Election Day. —Erin Doherty, Axios, 5 Nov. 2024

The locals preferred to remain inside, and because their windowless houses guarded their privacy the village often had a disquieting air of desertion. —Greg Jackson, The New Yorker, 3 Nov. 2024

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

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