regional
Americanadjective
-
of or relating to a region of considerable extent; not merely local.
a regional meeting of the Boy Scouts.
-
of or relating to a particular region, district, area, or part, as of a country; sectional; local.
regional differences in pronunciation.
-
Medicine/Medical, Anatomy. pertaining to, affecting, or localized in a particular area or part of the body.
regional anesthesia.
-
having, exhibiting, or characterized by regionalism.
He writes regional novels.
noun
-
Often regionals. a regional competition or tournament.
The basketball team won the regionals.
-
a regional company, branch, stock exchange, etc..
Regionals are getting stiff competition from the national firms.
adjective
Other Word Forms
- interregional adjective
- interregionally adverb
- regionally adverb
Etymology
Origin of regional
From the Latin word regiōnālis, dating back to 1645–55. See region, -al 1
Explanation
Regional is bigger than local and smaller than national. The local weather forecast covers your city and perhaps a few suburbs; the regional forecast gives you more: maybe a slew of counties, maybe the whole state, maybe even several states. People who write dictionaries like to think of regional as being a precise term, having to do with well-defined geographic and cultural areas within larger nations: like regional cuisines, regional customs and even, in places like the Great Lakes, regional weather patterns. But lots of times regional is fuzzier than that. A regional high school has students from more than one town, but just how many towns depends on other factors — the local political structure, the number of kids in the area, and the like.
Vocabulary lists containing regional
Unit 3: Compelling Evidence
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!
The Syrian Refugee Crisis Continues
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!
Geography and World Regions
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.
Then-Attorney General Pam Bondi chose Thomas Albus, whom Trump had appointed as U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Missouri, to prosecute the case even though it fell far outside his usual regional jurisdiction.
From Salon • Apr. 14, 2026
Richard Parker, Mayor of the West Midlands, said it was a huge boost for the regional skills sector.
From BBC • Apr. 14, 2026
China has outperformed regional markets, driven by energy, healthcare, financials and tech sectors, he notes.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 13, 2026
“But if the next step is a naval clash, attacks on Gulf energy infrastructure, or a widening of regional military operations, then the market will start to price a much more dangerous scenario,” she cautioned.
From Barron's • Apr. 13, 2026
Such exchanges in the Andes, Alps, and Himalayas not only increased population densities in those areas, by providing people at all altitudes with a more balanced diet, but also promoted regional economic and political integration.
From "Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies" by Jared M. Diamond
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.
