International vs. Local — What's the Difference?
Edited by Tayyaba Rehman — By Maham Liaqat — Updated on April 22, 2024
International involves multiple countries and broad global implications, while local focuses on specific, smaller communities or regions.
Difference Between International and Local
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
International interactions span across national borders, engaging multiple countries in activities like trade, politics, and cultural exchange. On the other hand, local activities are confined to a particular area or community, often reflecting more specific regional or cultural identities.
International standards or laws aim to create consistency and cooperation among countries, such as in environmental regulations or trade agreements. Whereas, local laws and standards are tailored to the unique needs and values of a specific community or region.
International travel and communications often involve understanding and navigating diverse cultures and languages, presenting broader learning opportunities and challenges. In contrast, local travel and communication typically occur within a familiar cultural and linguistic context.
International businesses operate in multiple countries, adapting their products and services to a variety of markets. Local businesses, however, primarily serve the community within a close geographic area, often offering specialized goods or services tailored to local tastes and needs.
International news covers significant global events, influencing international policy and public opinion across countries. Local news, on the other hand, focuses on events and issues specific to a community or region, directly impacting the lives of local residents.
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Comparison Chart
Scope
Multiple countries
Specific community or region
Laws and Standards
Broad, aiming for global consistency
Tailored to local needs and values
Cultural Interaction
Diverse, across many cultures
Usually within a single culture
Business Operations
Adapts products for global markets
Focuses on regional consumer needs
News Coverage
Global events and implications
Region-specific events and issues
Compare with Definitions
International
Extending across national boundaries.
International waters are not governed by any single country's laws.
Local
Activities confined within a particular area.
Local markets sell goods produced in the surrounding areas.
International
Entities operating in multiple countries.
International corporations must navigate various cultural differences.
Local
Limited to a particular district or community.
Local elections determine municipal leadership.
International
Relating to the global scope or impact.
The pandemic required an international response.
Local
Pertaining to a specific area or region.
Local businesses often cater to the immediate community.
International
Pertaining to or involving two or more countries.
International agreements facilitate trade between nations.
Local
Focused on the interests of a local population.
Local news covers community events and concerns.
International
Activities conducted between nations.
International diplomacy plays a crucial role in maintaining peace.
Local
Regulations or customs specific to a particular place.
Local bylaws reflect the unique needs of the community.
International
Of, relating to, or involving two or more nations
An international commission.
International affairs.
Local
Relating or restricted to a particular area or one's neighbourhood
Researching local history
The local post office
International
Extending across or transcending national boundaries
International fame.
Local
(in technical use) relating to a particular region or part, or to each of any number of these
Migration can regulate the local density of animals
A local infection
International
Any of several socialist organizations of international scope formed during the late 1800s and early 1900s.
Local
An inhabitant of a particular area or neighbourhood
The street was full of locals and tourists
International
Of or having to do with more than one nation.
Local
Of, relating to, or characteristic of a particular place
A local custom.
The local slang.
International
Between or among nations
An international discussion
Local
Of or relating to a city, town, or district rather than a larger area
State and local government.
International
Participated in by two or more nations
An international competition
Local
Not broad or general; not widespread
Local outbreaks of flu.
International
Common to, or affecting, two or more nations.
An international rule
Local
Of or affecting a specific part of the body
A local infection.
International
Serving two or more nations
An international airport
Local
Making all possible or scheduled stops on a route; not express
A local train.
International
Of or concerning the association called the International.
Local
A public conveyance that makes several intermediate stops before the final destination is reached
Changed trains to a local.
International
Independent of national boundaries; common to all people.
The atmosphere is an international resource.
The international community of scholars.
Local
A local chapter or branch of an organization, especially of a labor union.
International
Foreign; of another nation.
An international student
Local
A local anesthetic.
International
Someone who has represented their country in a particular sport.
The United team includes five England internationals.
Local
(Informal) A person from a particular locality.
International
A game or contest between two or more nations.
Local
From or in a nearby location.
We prefer local produce.
International
(politics) A transnational organization of political parties of similar ideology.
Local
Connected directly to a particular computer, processor, etc.; able to be accessed offline.
Local disk drive
Local file
The panel shows both local and remote sites.
International
Between or among nations; pertaining to the intercourse of nations; participated in by two or more nations; common to, or affecting, two or more nations.
Local
Having limited scope (either lexical or dynamic); only being accessible within a certain portion of a program.
International
Of or concerning the association called the International.
Local
Applying to each point in a space rather than the space as a whole.
International
Independent of national boundaries; common to all people; as, the atmosphere is an international resource; the international community of scholars.
Local
(medicine) Of or pertaining to a restricted part of an organism.
Local lesion
The patient didn't want to be sedated, so we applied only local anesthesia.
International
The International; an abbreviated from of the title of the International Workingmen's Association, the name of an association, formed in London in 1864, which has for object the promotion of the interests of the industrial classes of all nations.
Local
Descended from an indigenous population.
Hawaiian Pidgin is spoken by the local population.
International
A member of the International Association.
Local
A person who lives near a given place.
It's easy to tell the locals from the tourists.
International
Any of several international socialist organizations
Local
A branch of a nationwide organization such as a trade union.
I'm in the TWU, too. Local 6.
International
Concerning or belonging to all or at least two or more nations;
International affairs
An international agreement
International waters
Local
(rail transport) local train
The expresses skipped my station, so I had to take a local.
International
From or between other countries;
External commerce
International trade
Developing nations need outside help
Local
(British) One's nearest or regularly frequented public house or bar.
I got barred from my local, so I've started going all the way into town for a drink.
Local
(programming) A locally scoped identifier.
Functional programming languages usually don't allow changing the immediate value of locals once they've been initialized, unless they're explicitly marked as being mutable.
Local
An item of news relating to the place where the newspaper is published.
Local
Clipping of local anesthetic
Local
(finance) An independent trader who acts for themselves rather than on behalf of investors.
Local
A Twitter user who is not a part of Stan Twitter.
Local
In the local area; within a city, state, country, etc.
It's never been more important to buy local.
Local
Of or pertaining to a particular place, or to a definite region or portion of space; restricted to one place or region; as, a local custom.
Gives to airy nothingA local habitation and a name.
Local
A train which receives and deposits passengers or freight along the line of the road; a train for the accommodation of a certain district.
Local
In newspaper cant, an item of news relating to the place where the paper is published.
Local
A train or bus which stops at all stations along a line, as contrasted with an express, which stops only at certain stations designated as express stops.
Local
Public transport consisting of a bus or train that stops at all stations or stops;
The local seemed to take forever to get to New York
Local
Anesthetic that numbs a local area of the body
Local
Relating to or applicable to or concerned with the administration of a city or town or district rather than a larger area;
Local taxes
Local authorities
Local
Of or belonging to or characteristic of a particular locality or neighborhood;
Local customs
Local schools
The local citizens
A local point of view
Local outbreaks of flu
A local bus line
Local
Affecting only a restricted part or area of the body;
Local anesthesia
Common Curiosities
What defines an international activity?
An international activity involves multiple countries and often requires cross-cultural engagement.
Why is local news important to residents?
Local news keeps residents informed about their immediate environment and issues directly affecting them.
How does cultural interaction differ between international and local settings?
International settings involve navigating multiple cultures, whereas local settings generally deal with a single cultural context.
How do local businesses differ from international ones?
Local businesses primarily focus on serving their immediate community, unlike international businesses that operate across multiple markets.
What are some examples of international cooperation?
Examples include climate agreements, trade treaties, and health organizations working across borders.
What are the typical focuses of local laws?
Local laws focus on addressing specific needs and values of a community or region.
How do international standards impact global operations?
International standards help in maintaining consistency and facilitating cooperation across different national frameworks.
Are international regulations always effective?
While intended for broad application, international regulations may face challenges due to differing national interests and enforcement capabilities.
What benefits do local businesses offer to their communities?
Local businesses contribute to the local economy and are often more responsive to local needs and preferences.
Can local entities have international impact?
Yes, local entities can have international impact if their actions or products reach or influence other countries.
What challenges do international travelers face?
They often face challenges related to language barriers, cultural differences, and varying legal systems.
How do international news agencies operate?
They cover global events from multiple perspectives and strive to inform an international audience.
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Written by
Maham Liaqat
Edited by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
