local option

American  

noun

1. a right of choice exercised by a minor political division, as a county, especially as to allowing the sale of liquor.

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local option British  

noun

1. (esp in Scotland, New Zealand, and the US) the privilege of a municipality, county, etc, to determine by referendum whether a particular activity, esp the sale of liquor, shall be permitted there

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Etymology

Origin of local option

First recorded in 1875–80

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

local option

Brussels hopes it could provide an alternative local option for any payments in shops or online since people could easily pay, just like other systems, using a card, an app or via their banking app.

From Barron's ● Jun. 23, 2026

Fife Council said it was working to explore other options to keep the family together until a more local option becomes available.

From BBC ● Apr. 12, 2023

But the group is particularly set against the local option in HB 1628, which would affect sales under $5 million, Gorton said.

From Seattle Times ● Apr. 10, 2023

It took courageous and farsighted judges to stand up and say that civil rights are not dispensed in our country by local option.

From Slate ● Mar. 29, 2021

"We'll get back to our old routine when my chief gets over his local option excitement."

From The End of the Rainbow by MacGregor, Mary Esther Miller