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 epicenter was approximately 3 miles north-northeast of Castaic, at a depth of 7 miles.
—
Ca Earthquake Bot, Sacbee.com, 8 Apr. 2026
The perfect place to make every day a getaway Vi at Aventura offers easy, elevated living in the epicenter of South Florida.
—Vi At Aventura, Miami Herald, 3 Apr. 2026
There were no immediate reports of damage or injuries from areas closer to the epicenter.
—ABC News, 3 Apr. 2026
Palo Alto at that time was also the epicenter of the fledgling computer industry and the innovative band was at the very core of the evolution of the computer.
—Mike Hanlon
march 22, New Atlas, 22 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for epicenter
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Ca Earthquake Bot, Sacbee.com, 8 Apr. 2026
The perfect place to make every day a getaway Vi at Aventura offers easy, elevated living in the epicenter of South Florida.
—Vi At Aventura, Miami Herald, 3 Apr. 2026
There were no immediate reports of damage or injuries from areas closer to the epicenter.
—ABC News, 3 Apr. 2026
Palo Alto at that time was also the epicenter of the fledgling computer industry and the innovative band was at the very core of the evolution of the computer.
—Mike Hanlon
march 22, New Atlas, 22 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for epicenter
Cite this Entry
“Epicenter.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/epicenter. Accessed 8 Apr. 2026.
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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