hot spot
noun
variants
or less commonly hotspot
plural hot spots also hotspots
1
: a place of more than usual interest, activity, or popularity
birding hot spots
2
: a place in the upper mantle of the earth at which hot magma from the lower mantle upwells to melt through the crust usually in the interior of a tectonic plate to form a volcanic feature
also
: a place in the crust overlying a hot spot
3
a
: an area of political, military, or civil unrest usually considered dangerous
global hot spots
b
: a place or area (such as a city or region of a country) where there is an elevated prevalence or increased transmission risk of a disease
The city became a COVID-19 hot spot.
4
: a place where a wireless Internet connection is available
5
: an inflamed patch of moist infected skin on a domestic animal and especially a dog
Examples of hot spot in a Sentence
The new restaurant is the latest hot spot in town.
This part of the country is a hot spot of rebel activity.
Recent Examples on the Web
In many ways, this is old hat to the 65-year-old who’s been a pilot since 1983 and for the past 11 years has flown an air tanker into various hot spots around the country.
—
Jordan Bianchi, The Athletic, 15 Jan. 2025
Fighting the deadly wildfires in Southern California requires a coordinated team effort – from tactical crews attacking hazardous hot spots on the ground to planes and helicopters providing fire suppression from the air.
—George Petras, USA TODAY, 14 Jan. 2025
That was how Executive Assistant Police Chief Robert Alldredge introduced statistics comparing crime rates in the West 7th entertainment district to other similar nightlife hot spots at a City Council work session on April 16.
—Cody Copeland, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 14 Jan. 2025
The service, which can be booked online, will tour 15 tourist hot spots across Italy for one day each month until April 2026.
—George Nelson For Artnews, Robb Report, 13 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for hot spot 
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Jordan Bianchi, The Athletic, 15 Jan. 2025
Fighting the deadly wildfires in Southern California requires a coordinated team effort – from tactical crews attacking hazardous hot spots on the ground to planes and helicopters providing fire suppression from the air.
—George Petras, USA TODAY, 14 Jan. 2025
That was how Executive Assistant Police Chief Robert Alldredge introduced statistics comparing crime rates in the West 7th entertainment district to other similar nightlife hot spots at a City Council work session on April 16.
—Cody Copeland, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 14 Jan. 2025
The service, which can be booked online, will tour 15 tourist hot spots across Italy for one day each month until April 2026.
—George Nelson For Artnews, Robb Report, 13 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for hot spot
Dictionary Entries Near hot spot
Cite this Entry
“Hot spot.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hot%20spot. Accessed 18 Jan. 2025.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
hot spot
noun
variants
also hotspot
1
: a patch of painful moist inflamed skin on a domestic animal and especially a dog that starts as a response to a skin irritant (as an allergen or an insect or tick bite), that is rapidly worsened by scratching, chewing, or licking the affected area, and that may become seriously infected if not promptly cleaned and medicated
2
: a place or area (as a city or region of a country) where there is an elevated prevalence or an increased transmission risk of a disease (as cholera, diabetes, or malaria)
3
: a site in genetic material (as DNA or a chromosome) having a high frequency of mutation or recombination
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