English Reference
noun

nexus

n.
US /ˈnɛksəs/ UK /nˈɛksəs/ nexus UK spelling nexuses

  1. 01 C1 Advanced Formal

    a connection or link between different things.

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

    Simple

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

    In context

    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'.

    disconnectiongap
  2. 02 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.

    Simple

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

    In context

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

  3. 03 C2 Proficiency TechnicalFormal 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.

    Simple

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

    In context

    Establishing a tax nexus in multiple jurisdictions requires a sophisticated understanding of varying state statutes regarding digital commerce.

  4. 04 C2 Proficiency TechnicalAcademic 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.

    Simple

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

    In context

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

More challenging is establishing whether there is any nexus between payments and political outcomes.

The Guardian· 28 Aug 2026

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).

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

This entry
Origin Latin nexus
Level C1 · Advanced
Frequency Frequent
Updated