What does "nexus" mean?

1. (a connection or link) a connection or link between different things. 2. (a central point) the central point or most important part of a network or group. 3. (legal tax connection) a connection that a business has with a place that allows the government to tax it. 4. (linguistic unit) a group of words that express a complete thought together.

How do you use "nexus"?

Often used with the preposition 'between' or 'of'.

nexus

US //ˈnɛksəs// UK //nˈɛksəs// nexus

1 a connection or link (n.)
C1 Advanced Formal

a connection or link between different things.

a means of connection; a link or tie between individuals, things, or ideas.

Example

The report explores the nexus between poverty and poor health in big cities.

Example

The study aims to illuminate the complex nexus between environmental degradation and global migration patterns over the last century.

Usage

Often used with the preposition 'between' or 'of'.
- disconnection
- gap
2 a central point (n.)
C1 Advanced Formal

the central point or most important part of a network or group.

a connected group or network, or the central focus where these connections meet.

Example

The city became a nexus for trade and culture in the region.

Example

The capital city serves as the financial nexus of the country, where all major banking and investment decisions are concentrated.
- periphery

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3 legal tax connection (n.)
C2 Proficiency Technical Formal Law

a connection that a business has with a place that allows the government to tax it.

a sufficient physical or economic presence within a jurisdiction that allows a taxing authority to impose taxes on a business.

Example

The company had to pay local taxes because it had a physical nexus in that state.

Example

Establishing a tax nexus in multiple jurisdictions requires a sophisticated understanding of varying state statutes regarding digital commerce.
- presence
- standing
4 linguistic unit (n.)
C2 Proficiency Technical Academic Science

a group of words that express a complete thought together.

a group of words expressing two concepts in one unit, such as a subject and a predicate.

Example

In this grammar theory, the relationship between a subject and a verb is called a nexus.

Example

Jespersen distinguished between a junction, like 'the blue sky', and a nexus, such as 'the sky is blue'.
- clause
- proposition

Origin

From Latin nexus (“connection, nexus; act of binding, tying or fastening together; something which binds, binding, bond, fastening, joint; legal obligation”), from nectō (“to attach, bind, connect, fasten, tie; to interweave; to relate; to unite; to bind by obligation, make liable, oblige; to compose, contrive, devise, produce”) + -tus (suffix forming verbal nouns).