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
The earthquake struck at a depth of 15 miles, with its epicenter about 10 miles southeast of Yosemite Valley.
—
Ca Earthquake Bot, Sacbee.com, 13 Jan. 2026
Calvary became the epicenter of the scene, launching Christian rock bands like Love Song and Children of the Day.
—Literary Hub, 12 Jan. 2026
Minnesota has found itself at the epicenter of the political world, reeling from tensions sparked by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officer fatally shooting a woman — an incident that renewed fierce debate over immigration, law enforcement and federal overreach.
—Amie Parnes, The Hill, 11 Jan. 2026
Colombia is considered the epicenter of the world’s cocaine trade.
—Will Weissert, Chicago Tribune, 8 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for epicenter
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Cite this Entry
“Epicenter.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/epicenter. Accessed 20 Jan. 2026.
Kids 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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