Locale vs. Local — What's the Difference?
Edited by Tayyaba Rehman — By Fiza Rafique — Updated on October 30, 2023
Locale refers to a place or setting, while Local pertains to a particular area or community.
Difference Between Locale and Local
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Locale and Local, though appearing similar, convey different meanings. Locale primarily refers to a place or setting where something happens or exists. It can signify a physical location, like a town or a particular spot, or it might refer to the backdrop of a particular event, such as a movie or book's setting. For instance, the Locale of a film might be a remote island or bustling city, indicating the environment or scenery.
Local, on the other hand, is an adjective describing something that belongs to or is connected with a particular area or community. For instance, local produce refers to fruits, vegetables, or other goods produced within a specific region. Local can also be a noun, indicating a person from a particular area, like referring to residents of a town as "the locals."
Both words, while distinct, can sometimes intersect in usage. For instance, a local bar implies a bar within a particular area, and the locale of a story could be this very bar. However, while "local" emphasizes the regional nature or origin of something, "locale" stresses the physical or metaphorical place or setting.
In everyday speech, one might hear references to "local news" or "local authorities." These usages emphasize a specific region or community's relevance. In contrast, the term "locale" might be employed when discussing where an event took place, like "The mystery novel had a tropical island as its locale."
Comparison Chart
Part of Speech
Noun
Adjective (primarily), also Noun
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Definition
A place or setting
Pertaining to a particular area or community
Usage Context
Often in relation to the backdrop or setting of events
Describes the origin or association with a specific region
Examples
Settings in books, movies, events
Local produce, local news, local residents
Synonyms
Setting, backdrop, scene
Regional, community-based, neighborhood
Compare with Definitions
Locale
Locale emphasizes the surroundings or ambiance of a place.
The wedding's Locale was breathtaking with a view of the mountains.
Local
Local can refer to residents of a specific place.
The Local population was very welcoming to visitors.
Locale
Locale denotes the backdrop or environment of an occurrence.
The Locale of the crime was a dimly lit alley.
Local
Local emphasizes proximity or being nearby.
The Local store is just around the corner.
Locale
Locale can mean the setting for an event or story.
The tropical beach served as the perfect Locale for their romantic tale.
Local
Relating or restricted to a particular area or one's neighbourhood
Researching local history
The local post office
Locale
Locale refers to a specific place or location.
The Locale of the conference was a large convention center.
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
Locale
A place where something happens or is set, or that has particular events associated with it
Her summers were spent in a variety of exotic locales
Local
An inhabitant of a particular area or neighbourhood
The street was full of locals and tourists
Locale
A place, especially with reference to a particular event
The locale of a crime.
Local
Of, relating to, or characteristic of a particular place
A local custom.
The local slang.
Locale
The scene or setting, as of a novel.
Local
Of or relating to a city, town, or district rather than a larger area
State and local government.
Locale
The place where something happens.
Being near running water and good shade, the explorers decided it was a good locale for setting up camp.
Local
Not broad or general; not widespread
Local outbreaks of flu.
Locale
(computing) The set of settings related to the language and region in which a computer program executes. Examples are language, currency and time formats, character encoding etc.
Local
Of or affecting a specific part of the body
A local infection.
Locale
(mathematics) A partially ordered set with the following additional axiomatic properties: any finite subset of it has a meet, any arbitrary subset of it has a join, and distributivity, which states that a binary meet distributes with respect to an arbitrary join. (Note: locales are just like frames except that the category of locales is opposite to the category of frames.)
Local
Making all possible or scheduled stops on a route; not express
A local train.
Locale
A place, spot, or location.
Local
A public conveyance that makes several intermediate stops before the final destination is reached
Changed trains to a local.
Locale
A principle, practice, form of speech, or other thing of local use, or limited to a locality.
Local
A local chapter or branch of an organization, especially of a labor union.
Locale
The scene of any event or action (especially the place of a meeting)
Local
A local anesthetic.
Locale
Locale can be used for both physical and metaphorical settings.
The novel’s Locale, though fictional, felt incredibly real.
Local
(Informal) A person from a particular locality.
Local
From or in a nearby location.
We prefer local produce.
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.
Local
Having limited scope (either lexical or dynamic); only being accessible within a certain portion of a program.
Local
Applying to each point in a space rather than the space as a whole.
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.
Local
Descended from an indigenous population.
Hawaiian Pidgin is spoken by the local population.
Local
A person who lives near a given place.
It's easy to tell the locals from the tourists.
Local
A branch of a nationwide organization such as a trade union.
I'm in the TWU, too. Local 6.
Local
(rail transport) local train
The expresses skipped my station, so I had to take a local.
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
Local
Local pertains to a specific area or region.
We sourced all our ingredients from Local farms.
Local
Local can be associated with community-based activities or entities.
The Local council made the decision.
Local
Local often refers to something native or inherent to a place.
Local customs were fascinating to the tourists.
Common Curiosities
Is Locale synonymous with location?
While similar, Locale often emphasizes setting or backdrop, while location is more neutral.
Is Locale always a physical place?
Mostly, but it can also refer to a fictional or metaphorical setting.
Can something be both local and global?
Yes, a product can have local origins but global reach or recognition.
Can a Locale be mobile, like a moving train?
Yes, it can be, especially in the context of a story or event setting.
Can the Locale of a book be multiple places?
Yes, a story can have multiple settings or locales.
How is "local time" different from "standard time"?
Local time refers to the official time of a specific area, while standard time is a uniform reference often used across regions.
Is a Locale always specific?
Often, but it can be general like "a bustling city" or "a quiet village."
Can Local be a noun?
Yes, it can refer to residents of a particular area, e.g., "the locals."
Is Local culture about the culture of a specific place?
Yes, it refers to traditions or practices specific to a particular area or community.
What does "local produce" mean?
It refers to goods, especially food, produced within a specific region.
Is "local cuisine" about dishes from a specific place?
Yes, it pertains to the food typical of a particular region.
Can a building be a Locale?
Yes, especially if it's the setting for an event or occurrence.
What does "local legend" refer to?
It's a story or myth that originates from and is popular in a particular area.
Can a country be a Locale for an event?
While possible, Locale often refers to more specific settings. However, in broader contexts, a country can be a Locale.
Is every Locale a Local place for someone?
Yes, in the sense that every place or setting is local to someone living or originating there.
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Written by
Fiza RafiqueFiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
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.
