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
CBS News, 17 Mar. 2025
Fashion Asia Hongkong, operated by the Hong Kong Design Center, will host 10 Asian Designers to the Watch exhibition featuring local talents as well as Juntae Kim from South Korea, Grace Ling from New York, Tanaka Daisuke from Japan and Satoshi Kuwata of Setchu, who is now based in Milan.
—Tianwei Zhang, WWD, 17 Mar. 2025
Elaine Glusac, Travel + Leisure, 18 Mar. 2025
At those times, two-thirds to three-quarters of its patrons are tourists while the locals prevail in the slower seasons.
—Gary Stern, Forbes, 18 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for local
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Adjective
President Trump said the White House was monitoring the storms and would assist state and local officials to help in the recovery.
—CBS News, 17 Mar. 2025
Fashion Asia Hongkong, operated by the Hong Kong Design Center, will host 10 Asian Designers to the Watch exhibition featuring local talents as well as Juntae Kim from South Korea, Grace Ling from New York, Tanaka Daisuke from Japan and Satoshi Kuwata of Setchu, who is now based in Milan.
—Tianwei Zhang, WWD, 17 Mar. 2025
Noun
The community’s main sources of income—logging and fishing—were failing and locals were leaving for opportunities elsewhere.
—Elaine Glusac, Travel + Leisure, 18 Mar. 2025
At those times, two-thirds to three-quarters of its patrons are tourists while the locals prevail in the slower seasons.
—Gary Stern, Forbes, 18 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for local
Cite this Entry
“Local.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/local. Accessed 28 Mar. 2025.
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
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share