epicenter
noun
epi·cen·ter
ˈe-pi-ˌsen-tər 
1
: the part of the earth's surface directly above the focus of an earthquake compare hypocenter sense 1
2
: center sense 2a
the epicenter of world finance
Did you know?
The meaning of epi- in epicenter is "over", so the epicenter of an earthquake lies over the center or "focus" of the quake. Epicenter can also refer to the centers of things that may seem in their own way as powerful—though not as destructive—as earthquakes. Wall Street, for example, might be said to lie at the epicenter of the financial world.
Examples of epicenter in a Sentence
by continually reinventing itself, Las Vegas has managed to remain a national epicenter for entertainment
Recent Examples on the Web
Connecticut is well positioned to be the next epicenter of biotech.
—
Bill Claffey, Hartford Courant, 2 June 2025
In Gaines County — the epicenter of the current outbreak — about 90% of public school students were up-to-date on their measles vaccine by middle school, but fewer than half of students had their shots in a few individual schools.
—Meg Wingerter, Denver Post, 25 May 2025
Columbia was the epicenter of campus protests last year amid the war in the Gaza Strip.
—Anna Commander
gabe Whisnant, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 May 2025
Columbia became the epicenter of campus protests against Israel’s military campaign in Gaza when students pitched an encampment last spring calling on their administrators to divest from the war.
—Cayla Bamberger, New York Daily News, 22 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for epicenter
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Bill Claffey, Hartford Courant, 2 June 2025
In Gaines County — the epicenter of the current outbreak — about 90% of public school students were up-to-date on their measles vaccine by middle school, but fewer than half of students had their shots in a few individual schools.
—Meg Wingerter, Denver Post, 25 May 2025
Columbia was the epicenter of campus protests last year amid the war in the Gaza Strip.
—Anna Commander
gabe Whisnant, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 May 2025
Columbia became the epicenter of campus protests against Israel’s military campaign in Gaza when students pitched an encampment last spring calling on their administrators to divest from the war.
—Cayla Bamberger, New York Daily News, 22 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for epicenter
Cite this Entry
“Epicenter.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/epicenter. Accessed 6 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
epicenter
noun
epi·cen·ter
ˈep-i-ˌsent-ər
: the part of the earth's surface directly above the starting point of an earthquake
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