or nexus
ˈnek-səs
Did you know?
If you’re unfamiliar with the word nexus, the popular, long-running video game series The Legend of Zelda may provide an object lesson in its several definitions (and if you’re unfamiliar with the games, we will explain). When nexus came into English in the 17th century, it meant “connection” or “link.” Eventually, people began using it to refer to a connected group or series of things, as in “a nexus of relationships.” In recent decades it has taken on a third meaning: “center” or “hub,” perhaps from the notion that a point in the center of an arrangement serves to join together the objects that surround it. Now, one might plausibly say that the 20 Zelda games (not counting remakes and spin-offs) themselves form a nexus, as each represents an installment in a long, twisty saga with numerous echoes and callbacks to other games in the series. Most of these feature the fictional land of Hyrule, which often presents magical nexuses to shadowy alternate dimensions (1991’s A Link to the Past), the past (2011’s Skyward Sword), or the underworld (2023’s Tears of the Kingdom) that the hero, Link (ahem) must traverse. As for nexus’s third meaning, Hyrule’s map is nearly always situated around a central nexus, or hub, in the form of the castle where the titular Zelda lives. (If you’re into gaming or curious about its lingo, don’t miss the article “Popular Gaming Terms Explained”).
Examples of nexus in a Sentence
Stephen Clark, Ars Technica, 7 Mar. 2025
Launched in 2012, the nonprofit 1871 has been an anchor tenant at the Mart and the nexus of the Chicago tech scene for more than a decade, providing space, expertise and funding opportunities for a long roster of startups.
—Robert Channick, Chicago Tribune, 26 Feb. 2025
Surging beehive thefts Freeman, a Butte County deputy, has become a de facto expert in the nexus between beekeeping and apiarian crime.
—Jake Goodrick, Sacramento Bee, 18 Feb. 2025
Comfy clothing is the nexus of an enjoyable travel experience, and Amazon’s Presidents Day sale is the best time to shop for stylish matching sets, breathable pants, and cozy layers at major discounts.
—Merrell Readman, Travel + Leisure, 13 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for nexus
Cite this Entry
“Nexus.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/nexus. Accessed 13 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
nexus
noun
or nexus
-səs, -ˌsüs
Legal Definition
nexus
noun
Latin, bond, tie, from nectere to bind
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