What’s the plural of “locus”?
Loci (pronounced lowk-eye) and locuses are both correct to mean the plural of locus, which refers to “the place where it happens or the most important area or point with which it is associated”.
The locus of power shifted after the election. .
The scientists studied the genetic loci linked to the trait. .
We examined two different locus points on the map. .
Each specific loci was investigated separately. .
What’s the singular of locus?
Locus is singular for loci.
What does the word locus mean?
Collins Dictionary on locus: “The locus of something is the place where it happens or the most important area or point with which it is associated”.
Other Latin nouns in English
| singular | plural |
| locus | loci |
| octopus | octopi (or octopuses) |
| radius | radi (or radiuses) |
| fungus | fungi (or funguses) |
| alumnus | alumni (or almunuses) |
| syllabus | syllabi (or syllabuses) |
The plural of “locus,” visualize “loci” with the “i” as a clue that it’s the plural, like “analysis” to “analyses.”.
“Locus”, singular, used in sentences
1. The locus of points equidistant from a given point is a circle.
2. People with an external locus of control believe in fate; those with an internal locus believe they have full control over their future.
3. Barcelona is the locus of Spanish industry.
4. Thereafter, the military remained the locus of real power.
“Loci”, plural, used in sentences
1. Unlike composite interval mapping, the set of controlled loci will necessarily vary for each marker and interval.
2. We reordered approximately 32 loci on chromosome 15 to improve linkage statistics.
3. After her death, the house in Rathgar lost for him its genius loci.
4. We do this for all pairs of loci.
5. Mutations in microsatellite loci may be responsible for some heterozygosity.
Origin of the word locus
From etymology online on locus (n.) (plural loci):
1715, “place, spot, locality,” from Latin locus “a place, spot; appointed place, position; locality, region, country; degree, rank, order; topic, subject,” from Old Latin stlocus.
Read more about nouns
| Types of nouns | What’s the plural of …? |
|---|---|
| plural-only nouns | …moose? |
| mass nouns | …octopus? |
| collective nouns | …cactus? |
| abstract nouns vs. concrete nouns | …analysis? |
| possessive nouns | …curriculum? |
| regular and irregular nouns | …crisis? |
Work Sheet
What are the accepted plural forms of “locus” according to the post?
Which word represents the singular form of “loci”?
According to the post, what is the primary meaning of “locus”?
Which of the following sentences demonstrates incorrect usage according to the post?
The study tip suggests visualizing “loci” with the “i” as a clue for the plural, similar to the plural of which word?
The experiment identified a single critical on the gene.
Mutations in microsatellite may be responsible for some heterozygosity.
Barcelona is the of Spanish industry.
We reordered approximately 32 on chromosome 15.
We do this for all pairs of .
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the plurals for locus?
+
When should I use locus (singular)?
+
When should I use loci (plural)?
+
What does the word locus mean?
+
What are common locus plural errors?
+
Yash, D. "What’s the Plural of Locus?." Grammarflex, Jun 21, 2025, https://www.grammarflex.com/whats-the-plural-of-locus/.
Sources
-
Definition of locus.
