hot spot
noun
variants
or less commonly hotspot
plural hot spots also hotspots
1
: a place of more than usual interest, activity, or popularity
birding hot spots
2
: a place in the upper mantle of the earth at which hot magma from the lower mantle upwells to melt through the crust usually in the interior of a tectonic plate to form a volcanic feature
also
: a place in the crust overlying a hot spot
3
a
: an area of political, military, or civil unrest usually considered dangerous
global hot spots
b
: a place or area (such as a city or region of a country) where there is an elevated prevalence or increased transmission risk of a disease
The city became a COVID-19 hot spot.
4
: a place where a wireless Internet connection is available
5
: an inflamed patch of moist infected skin on a domestic animal and especially a dog
Examples of hot spot in a Sentence
The new restaurant is the latest hot spot in town.
This part of the country is a hot spot of rebel activity.
Recent Examples on the Web
Crews will check the fire periodically today to ensure there are no hot spots.
—
Ca Wildfire Bot, Sacbee.com, 14 May 2025
That includes both inland cities in California and out-of-state hot spots.
—Malia Mendez, Los Angeles Times, 10 May 2025
The volcano, known as Axial Seamount, is located nearly 1 mile (1.4 kilometers) underwater on a geological hot spot, where searing gushes of molten rock rise from Earth’s mantle and into the crust.
—Kameryn Griesser, CNN Money, 8 May 2025
Moore was also given control of the firm’s mobile hot spot, which enabled him to avoid detection by law enforcement, the indictment alleges.
—Kc Baker, People.com, 5 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for hot spot
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Ca Wildfire Bot, Sacbee.com, 14 May 2025
That includes both inland cities in California and out-of-state hot spots.
—Malia Mendez, Los Angeles Times, 10 May 2025
The volcano, known as Axial Seamount, is located nearly 1 mile (1.4 kilometers) underwater on a geological hot spot, where searing gushes of molten rock rise from Earth’s mantle and into the crust.
—Kameryn Griesser, CNN Money, 8 May 2025
Moore was also given control of the firm’s mobile hot spot, which enabled him to avoid detection by law enforcement, the indictment alleges.
—Kc Baker, People.com, 5 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for hot spot
Cite this Entry
“Hot spot.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hot%20spot. Accessed 19 May. 2025.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
hot spot
noun
variants
also hotspot
1
: a patch of painful moist inflamed skin on a domestic animal and especially a dog that starts as a response to a skin irritant (as an allergen or an insect or tick bite), that is rapidly worsened by scratching, chewing, or licking the affected area, and that may become seriously infected if not promptly cleaned and medicated
2
: a place or area (as a city or region of a country) where there is an elevated prevalence or an increased transmission risk of a disease (as cholera, diabetes, or malaria)
3
: a site in genetic material (as DNA or a chromosome) having a high frequency of mutation or recombination
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