What does local mean?
Local describes something connected with a particular place or area, usually one that is nearby or relatively small. It can refer to a geographical neighbourhood, such as a local shop or local residents, or to the people and institutions of a defined administrative area, as in local government. The word often implies a close relationship with the place concerned: local produce is generally produced nearby, while local news concerns a particular community rather than national or international affairs. As a noun, a local is someone who lives in the area being discussed. Local can also function as an adverb, especially in the expression go local, meaning to visit a nearby place or use nearby services. Its broad everyday use makes it useful for discussing community identity, regional decision-making, business, and the distinction between local concerns and wider ones.
Relating to a particular place or area, especially a nearby or locally administered area.
"The council approved a new local bus route."
Often contrasts with national, global, or remote, depending on context.
A person who lives in a particular place, especially a resident of the area under discussion.
"Locals welcomed the visitors to the festival."
Common in everyday speech; in formal writing, local resident may be more precise.
To or in a nearby place, especially a local venue or destination.
"We went local for lunch instead of travelling across town."
This use is informal but common, especially in the expression go local.
Used for people who live in a particular place; the plural is standard in ordinary and formal contexts.
"The locals welcomed the new restaurant."
The word local comes from Latin localis, meaning “of a place”: even its distant relatives still point back to the idea of location.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of local
Local comes through English from Latin localis, meaning “of a place” or “pertaining to a locality,” an adjective formed from locus, “place” or “position.” The Latin root also appears in English words such as locale, locative, and locomotive, all of which preserve the idea of place or movement toward a place. In modern English, local developed from this general association with a place into terms specifically concerned with a neighbourhood, community, or administrative area.
Related word forms
How local is actually used
Local is common in both formal and informal contexts. In political and administrative contexts, it usually means concerning a town, city, or other defined area rather than the whole country. As a noun, it can sound slightly informal, while locally is especially common when describing where an event, product, or service originates.
Easily confused with local
Local commonly means nearby or specific to a place, whereas locale more often refers to a setting or the place where an event occurs.
Local is the everyday adjective related to a place, while locus is a more formal word for a precise position, centre, or defining location.