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
But in all seriousness, that’s to say, P-town has long been the summertime hot spot for weirdos and (yes, largely cis) gay revelry on the very tip of Cape Cod.
—
Jd Shadel, Them., 21 Apr. 2025
Faucets are hot spots for germs because, before turning them on, your hands are dirty, particularly during food preparation.
—Matt Fuchs, Time, 21 Apr. 2025
Over in the United States, an unexpected place has become a souvenir hot spot: the Trader Joe’s grocery store chain.
—Lilit Marcus, CNN Money, 19 Apr. 2025
Coachella is a hot spot for several celebrities, with many already attending the first weekend of performances and activations.
—Julia Teti, Footwear News, 16 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for hot spot
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Jd Shadel, Them., 21 Apr. 2025
Faucets are hot spots for germs because, before turning them on, your hands are dirty, particularly during food preparation.
—Matt Fuchs, Time, 21 Apr. 2025
Over in the United States, an unexpected place has become a souvenir hot spot: the Trader Joe’s grocery store chain.
—Lilit Marcus, CNN Money, 19 Apr. 2025
Coachella is a hot spot for several celebrities, with many already attending the first weekend of performances and activations.
—Julia Teti, Footwear News, 16 Apr. 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 24 Apr. 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
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share