local

UK: /ˈləʊk^əl/ US: /ˈloʊkəl/ ,(lō′kəl)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

lo•cal /ˈloʊkəl/   adj. 

1. relating to, characteristic of, or restricted to a particular place:
   a local custom; a local hospital.
2. of or relating to a city, town, or small district rather than an entire state or country:
   [before a noun] local town government.
3. stopping at most or all stations:
   a local train.
4. Medicine affecting only a particular part or area of the body without loss of consciousness:
   a local anesthetic.

n. [countable]

5. Transport a local train, bus, etc.:
   Take the local to 23rd Street.
6. Drugs a local anesthetic.
7. Often, locals. [plural] a local person or resident:
   The locals don't like newcomers.

lo•cal•ly, adv. See -loc-.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

lo•cal  (lō′kəl), adj. 

1. pertaining to or characterized by place or position in space;
   spatial.
2. pertaining to, characteristic of, or restricted to a particular place or particular places:
   a local custom.
3. pertaining to a city, town, or small district rather than an entire state or country:
   local transportation.
4. stopping at most or all stations:
   a local train.
5. pertaining to or affecting a particular part or particular parts, as of a physical system or organism:
   a local disease.
6. Medicine (of anesthesia or an anesthetic) affecting only a particular part or area of the body, without concomitant loss of consciousness, as distinguished from general anesthesia.

n. 

7. a local train, bus, etc.
8. a newspaper item of local interest.
9. a local branch of a union, fraternity, etc.
10. Drugs a local anesthetic.
11. Often, locals. 
    • a local person or resident:
      primarily of interest to locals.
    • a local athletic team:
      the locals versus the state champions.
12. stamp (def. 22).
13. British Terms a neighborhood pub.

v.i. 

14. Informal Terms to travel by or take a local train or the like.

• Late Latin locālis. See locus, -al¹
• late Middle English 1400–50

lo′cal•ness, n. 

lo-cal  (lō′kal′, -kal′), adj. 

1. Informal Terms low-cal.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

local / ˈləʊk^əl/ adjective

1. characteristic of or associated with a particular locality or area
2. of, concerned with, or relating to a particular place or point in space
3. of, affecting, or confined to a limited area or part
   Compare systemic2
4. (of a train, bus, etc) stopping at all stations or stops

noun

1. a train, bus, etc, that stops at all stations or stops
2. an inhabitant of a specified locality
3. a pub close to one's home or place of work
4. short for local anaesthetic
5. an item of local interest in a newspaper

Etymology: 15th Century: via Old French from Late Latin locālis, from Latin locus place, locus

ˈlocalness noun