# locator

/ˈɫoʊˌkeɪtɝ/ (US) · /ləʊkˈeɪtɐ/ (UK) · CEFR B2 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/locator
Updated: 2026-05-11

## Definition

a tool or person that helps you find where something is. You might use one to find a lost phone or a specific place on a map.

For teachers: a person or device that identifies the position or site of something. Often used in technical contexts to describe software components or hardware sensors that track coordinates.

## Examples

- The store has a digital locator to help you find products.
- The technician used a cable locator to find the underground wires before the construction crew started digging.
- Modern web browsers include a built-in resource locator that allows users to navigate directly to specific files hosted on remote servers across the globe.

## Usage notes

- Often appears in compound nouns like 'store locator', 'resource locator', or 'emergency locator'.

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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.