hot spot
noun
variants
or less commonly hotspot
plural hot spots also hotspots
1
: a place of more than usual interest, activity, or popularity
birding hot spots
2
: a place in the upper mantle of the earth at which hot magma from the lower mantle upwells to melt through the crust usually in the interior of a tectonic plate to form a volcanic feature
also
: a place in the crust overlying a hot spot
3
a
: an area of political, military, or civil unrest usually considered dangerous
global hot spots
b
: a place or area (such as a city or region of a country) where there is an elevated prevalence or increased transmission risk of a disease
The city became a COVID-19 hot spot.
4
: a place where a wireless Internet connection is available
5
: an inflamed patch of moist infected skin on a domestic animal and especially a dog
Examples of hot spot in a Sentence
The new restaurant is the latest hot spot in town.
This part of the country is a hot spot of rebel activity.
Recent Examples on the Web
The beaches here are known as a hot spot for shark teeth; visit during low tide to find them.
—
Grace Haynes, Southern Living, 12 Apr. 2025
Take the quiz here … TOURIST TERROR – US embassy in hot spot issues assault warning for women renting jet skis.
—FOXNews.com, 10 Apr. 2025
Sunset Beach is a hot spot for collecting shells and is known for having lots of sand dollars that wash up on the shore.
—Lisa Cericola, Southern Living, 9 Apr. 2025
Ground forces will be passing through this hot spot the next day.
—David Fear, Rolling Stone, 9 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for hot spot
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Grace Haynes, Southern Living, 12 Apr. 2025
Take the quiz here … TOURIST TERROR – US embassy in hot spot issues assault warning for women renting jet skis.
—FOXNews.com, 10 Apr. 2025
Sunset Beach is a hot spot for collecting shells and is known for having lots of sand dollars that wash up on the shore.
—Lisa Cericola, Southern Living, 9 Apr. 2025
Ground forces will be passing through this hot spot the next day.
—David Fear, Rolling Stone, 9 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for hot spot
Cite this Entry
“Hot spot.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hot%20spot. Accessed 18 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
hot spot
noun
variants
also hotspot
1
: a patch of painful moist inflamed skin on a domestic animal and especially a dog that starts as a response to a skin irritant (as an allergen or an insect or tick bite), that is rapidly worsened by scratching, chewing, or licking the affected area, and that may become seriously infected if not promptly cleaned and medicated
2
: a place or area (as a city or region of a country) where there is an elevated prevalence or an increased transmission risk of a disease (as cholera, diabetes, or malaria)
3
: a site in genetic material (as DNA or a chromosome) having a high frequency of mutation or recombination
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share