English Reference
noun

location

n.
US /ɫoʊˈkeɪʃən/ UK /ləʊkˈeɪʃən/ lo·ca·tion UK spelling locations

  1. 01 B1 Intermediate

    a particular place or position.

    a specific point or site in physical space.

    Simple

    The hotel is in a beautiful location right next to the beach.

    In context

    The developers spent months scouting for a prime location that would offer both high foot traffic and easy access to public transport.

  2. 02 B2 Upper Intermediate Theatre

    a place outside of a studio where a film or television show is recorded.

    a site outside of a studio used for filming scenes in a motion picture or television production.

    Simple

    The movie was filmed on location in the mountains of Italy.

    In context

    Shooting on location presented significant logistical challenges, particularly when the crew had to transport heavy equipment across the rugged terrain.

  3. 03 C1 Advanced Formal

    the act of finding where something is.

    the process or act of determining the position of something.

    Simple

    The device allows for the precise location of stolen vehicles.

    In context

    The rapid location of the leak prevented further damage to the building's structural integrity.

  4. 04 C2 Proficiency Dialect

    in South Africa, an area where non-white people were forced to live during apartheid.

    a segregated urban area in South Africa designated for non-white residents during the apartheid era.

    Simple

    He grew up in a small location outside of the city during the 1980s.

    In context

    The historical tour provided a sobering look at the living conditions within the locations established under the previous regime.

  5. 05 C2 Proficiency American EnglishTechnical Law

    the act of marking out the borders of a piece of land.

    the formal marking of boundaries or identification of a site based on legal descriptions or maps.

    Simple

    The surveyor completed the location of the mining claim yesterday.

    In context

    The dispute arose from an error in the original location of the property lines, which had been recorded incorrectly in the nineteenth century.

    Usage

    Often used in the context of mining claims or land grants.

Don't confuse

location vs situation — Location is the physical spot where something sits, while situation is the set of circumstances or the state of affairs surrounding it.

Usage location along · location inside · location with unobstructed


Borrowed from Latin locatio, locationis (“a placing”), from locare (“to place, put, set, let”), from locus (“a place”). Equivalent to locate + -ion.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry
Origin Latin locatio
Level B1 · Intermediate
Frequency Very common
Updated