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
: 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
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
Jon Marcus, NPR, 17 Dec. 2024
The menu offers a variety of items throughout the day, from local coffee and pastries for breakfast to a variety of sandwiches and salads to jollof rice and wings in later hours.
—Essence, 17 Dec. 2024
Natalie Donback, TIME, 18 Dec. 2024
By the end of my visit, locals were welcoming me into their artist studios, buying me ice cream at Growler’s (a must-stop shop), and stopping their cars to offer me a ride in the rain.
—Cnt Editors, Condé Nast Traveler, 17 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for local 
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Adjective
His disappointment was brief; a local HVAC company happened to be looking for apprentices, and hired him.
—Jon Marcus, NPR, 17 Dec. 2024
The menu offers a variety of items throughout the day, from local coffee and pastries for breakfast to a variety of sandwiches and salads to jollof rice and wings in later hours.
—Essence, 17 Dec. 2024
Noun
After adopting a plan to improve water quality, locals were finally able to enjoy a swim in 2002.
—Natalie Donback, TIME, 18 Dec. 2024
By the end of my visit, locals were welcoming me into their artist studios, buying me ice cream at Growler’s (a must-stop shop), and stopping their cars to offer me a ride in the rain.
—Cnt Editors, Condé Nast Traveler, 17 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for local
Dictionary Entries Near local
Cite this Entry
“Local.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/local. Accessed 26 Dec. 2024.
Copy CitationKids 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
adverb
-kə-lē
local
2 of 2 noun1
: 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
local
2 of 2 noun
: local anesthetic
also
: local anesthesia
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