locale
Americannoun
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of locale
1765–75; alteration of earlier local < French: noun use of the adj. See local
Explanation
A locale is the specific place where something happens. If you dream of a trip to some tropical locale, Hawaii, Belize, and Costa Rica might all be on your wish list. When you choose a locale for a big sci-fi convention, you need to make sure there's enough room for all the participants. And when you decide on a locale for an intimate party, you might stick to a cozy spot like your own living room. Locale comes from the French local, and it was originally spelled the same way. The e was eventually added to encourage correct pronunciation, with the emphasis on the last syllable.
Vocabulary lists containing locale
Ghost Squad
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Listen, Slowly
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Americanized
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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.
See Examples For:
In each locale, O’Keeffe’s palette and even the vibrancy of her works changed, and in each one her abiding originality, power and finesse as an artist are unmistakable.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 7, 2026
It wouldn’t be LeBron landing in a more desirable locale.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 22, 2026
Officials have worked for more than a decade to try to combat those issues and promote the area as a more family-friendly locale.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 5, 2026
Swift has ties to several US cities and guesswork about the locale has reached fever pitch.
From BBC ● Jun. 5, 2026
But if we wish to find the Earth, we must redirect our course to the remote outskirts of the Galaxy, to an obscure locale near the edge of a distant spiral arm.
From "Cosmos" by Carl Sagan
![]()
Only when they arrive from their various locales, carrying their various loads of secrets, generosity and resentments, do the daughters discover what kind of help their mother wants.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 8, 2026
The WalletHub ranking differed from other recent listings, which have highlighted unique locales as the top retirement destinations, such as Wyoming, New Hampshire and Midland, Mich.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 31, 2026
United is hoping that another slew of exotic locales will help capture travel trends and spark new ones, even as high ticket prices weigh on customers’ pocketbooks.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 25, 2026
United Airlines UAL 1.33%increase; green up pointing triangle is readying its biggest-ever international expansion, betting that adding nonstop connections to far-flung, social media-friendly locales will keep passengers booking trips abroad.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 25, 2026
We still lived off the beaten path, but Pinewood Drive was much closer to my friends and school than the San Jose locales my parents were now considering.
From "Americanized" by Sara Saedi
![]()
Random Word
Spin the wheel and learn a new word!
Get a wordDefinitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.