plural loci
ˈlō-ˌsī 
-ˌkī,
-ˌkē
1
b
: a center of activity, attention, or concentration
in democracy the locus of power is in the people—
H. G. Rickover
H. G. Rickover2
: the set of all points whose location is determined by stated conditions
3
: the position in a chromosome of a particular gene or allele
Examples of locus in a Sentence
The area became a locus of resistance to the government.
an area of the Southwest that has been the locus of a number of New Agey movements
Recent Examples on the Web
In Mood Machine: The Rise of Spotify and the Costs of the Perfect Playlist, a new book from the journalist Liz Pelly, the playlist is the locus for many of Spotify’s troubling practices.
—Brad Shoup, The Atlantic, 11 Feb. 2025
Each such parallel feature was the locus of dust grains that were expelled from the nucleus at the same time, the smaller particles having been driven farther by solar radiation pressure.
—Joe Rao, Space.com, 27 Jan. 2025
The Democratic National Committee will be the locus of opposition to Trump and chart the party’s future, but the contest for its chair has, to the surprise of many, been tame.
—Ross Barkan, New York Times, 25 Jan. 2025
In the coming days, KI became a locus of support, both practically and emotionally.
—Rachel Kraus, Los Angeles Times, 24 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for locus
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Brad Shoup, The Atlantic, 11 Feb. 2025
Each such parallel feature was the locus of dust grains that were expelled from the nucleus at the same time, the smaller particles having been driven farther by solar radiation pressure.
—Joe Rao, Space.com, 27 Jan. 2025
The Democratic National Committee will be the locus of opposition to Trump and chart the party’s future, but the contest for its chair has, to the surprise of many, been tame.
—Ross Barkan, New York Times, 25 Jan. 2025
In the coming days, KI became a locus of support, both practically and emotionally.
—Rachel Kraus, Los Angeles Times, 24 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for locus
Cite this Entry
“Locus.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/locus. Accessed 3 Mar. 2025.
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Medical Definition
locus
noun
lo·cus
ˈlō-kəs
plural loci
ˈlō-ˌsī, -ˌkī also -ˌkē
1
: a place or site of an event, activity, or thing
the integrity of the tissues determines the extent and locus of the damage—Sylvia E. Hines
Sylvia E. Hines2
: the position in a chromosome of a particular gene or allele
Legal Definition
locus
noun
lo·cus
ˈlō-kəs
: the place connected with a particular event having legal significance
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