locality
Americannoun
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localities
plural
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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.
See Examples For:
“That has to be local to where the service is being provided, because people want language skills, people want locality, people want you in their office,” says Krishna.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 23, 2026
Thinking about that really, really influenced my approach to these pieces in terms of trying to collapse in each piece the timescales of historical influences and contemporary identity, but also the locality.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 17, 2026
"This enabled us to get enough specific locality information to prepare a Fossil Record Form and to scientifically catalogue the fossil," Daphne says.
From Science Daily ● Jun. 12, 2026
They said the decision had been taken after "listening to concerns about the impact of staging it in August, when other music festivals are taking place in the locality".
From BBC ● Apr. 29, 2026
Your agent will easily recognise the locality, as it is the ancient chapel of the mansion.
From "Dracula" by Bram Stoker
“And again, where the rubber meets the road” for this issue is at the level of localities, states and regional transmission organizations, he added.
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 21, 2026
Shanmugam characterized Boulder’s case as “unprecedented,” and argued that the Constitution does not permit individual localities to “use state law to regulate global conduct.”
From Slate ● Oct. 5, 2026
As another, he said the new rules could penalize immigrant families for accessing basic, preventative healthcare that actually helps control the broader public cost of illness to localities and states.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 14, 2026
When localities decide who may serve on a public board, they’re offering residents the opportunity to participate in local government.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 17, 2026
Some of them worshipped nature spirits, gods of particular localities, their own ancestors, and female shamans who spoke with departed spirits and delivered prayers in song.
From "At Last She Stood" by Erin Entrada Kelly
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Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
