glocal

American  

[gloh-kuhl] / ˈgloʊ kəl /

adjective

1. of or relating to the interconnection of global and local issues, factors, etc..

   a glocal conference on community development.

2. of or relating to the tailoring of globally available products and services to local markets.

   a glocal sales strategy.

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Other Word Forms

• glocalization noun
• glocalize verb (used with object)

Etymology

Origin of glocal

First recorded in 1980–85; blend of global ( def. ) and local ( def. )

Explanation

Glocal describes thinking globally while taking action at home, in your own community or country. A conference in the U.S. about how to reduce pollution worldwide as well as in individual communities would be a glocal conference. Glocal is a blend of global and local, with local in this context describing anything from a community to a country. Something glocal combines global and local concerns, or adapts one to the other. The adaptation of ideas, products, or experiences can go both ways, from global to local, as when a multinational restaurant chain offers different items in different countries, or from local to global, as when a city’s successful experiment with bike lanes eventually spreads around the world.

Example Sentences

“Labor representation is part of our company’s culture; half of our glocal Supervisory Board members are labor representatives,” VW said in a statement.

From Washington Times • Dec. 19, 2023

In “Up In The Air”, glocal is used to embody unthinking, top-down standardisation, neglecting the human interaction and understanding that are needed to be effective at the local level.

From Economist • Apr. 6, 2010