# epicenter

/ˈɛpəˌsɛntɝ/ (US) · CEFR B2 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/epicenter
Updated: 2026-05-31

## Definition

the exact point on the ground directly above where an earthquake starts. It is also used to describe the middle of a major event or problem.

For teachers: the point on the Earth's surface directly above the focus of an earthquake. By extension, it refers to the central point of a significant, often destructive, event or activity.

## Examples

- The epicenter of the earthquake was near the coast.
- The small town became the epicenter of the national protest movement after the local factory closed down.
- While the virus was detected in several provinces, the capital city remained the epicenter of the outbreak, accounting for nearly eighty percent of all confirmed cases.

## Pitfalls

- Not "The epicenter was ten miles underground." but "The focus was ten miles underground." — The epicenter is always on the surface; the point inside the earth where the earthquake starts is the focus or hypocenter.

## Usage notes

- Often used metaphorically to describe the heart of a crisis or a major cultural shift.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.