locality
Americannoun
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a place, spot, or district, with or without reference to things or persons in it or to occurrences there.
They moved to another locality.
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the state or fact of being local or having a location.
the locality that every material object must have.
noun
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a neighbourhood or area
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the site or scene of an event
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the fact or condition of having a location or position in space
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of locality
From the Late Latin word locālitās, dating back to 1620–30. See local, -ity
Explanation
Use the noun locality when you need an official-sounding way to say "area" or "region." For example, you might say, "I am so pleased to finally have a doughnut shop in my locality." You're most likely to come across the word locality in a news story or business report. It's a formal way to talk about a neighborhood or a section of town. The mayor might make a speech about crime in a particular locality, or the prevalence of potholes in another locality. The word has been in use since the 1700's, from the Latin word localis, "relating to or belonging to a place."
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.
Locality wages could irk workers in cheap areas and complicate bargaining, critics say.
From Seattle Times • Feb. 5, 2023
Locality, the national charity network, says some of its members believe they will be forced to close or significantly reduce some of their services over the next six months as their financial position worsens.
From BBC • Nov. 2, 2022
Locality is an aspect of an even more compelling illusion: that we exist within an absolute space, with respect to which we mark our positions as we move “through” it.
From Scientific American • Apr. 4, 2019
Locality, as Bell introduced it in 1964, is a stronger concept than no faster-than-light communication.
From Nature • Jun. 18, 2014
Locality labels, etc., should be affixed to the long pin, and the insects should be stored in cabinets or boxes.
From Wild Bees, Wasps and Ants and Other Stinging Insects by Saunders, Edward
Definitions 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.
