trouble spot

American

noun

an area in which trouble exists or is expected to develop.

There are several diplomatic trouble spots in Central America.

trouble spot British

noun

a place of recurring trouble, esp of political unrest

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Even before the latest release of the consumer-price index, inflation expectations had been climbing, a potential trouble spot in a market where stocks have largely shrugged off the U.S.-Iran conflict and the resulting energy shock.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 12, 2026

The economy is a particular trouble spot for the billionaire property developer.

From Barron's • Jan. 27, 2026

There is not the capacity to move troops around the country to concentrate them in the latest trouble spot.

From BBC • Nov. 16, 2023

It’s delayed mainly by unanticipated wetland soil, forcing builders to design a long-span bridge over the trouble spot.

From Seattle Times • Aug. 24, 2023

If they couldn’t control things either, the Code Green would be called and supervisors were to send all available officers to the trouble spot.

From "Newjack: Guarding Sing Sing" by Ted Conover

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023