Meaning & use
nexus
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Meanings
nouncountableformal
A point or network where several things meet and are linked together.
Grammar: Usually singular, often with of or between: a nexus of trade routes.
Patterns
- a nexus of something
- a nexus between things
The city is a nexus of rail and road routes.
The harbor became a nexus for trade.
The conference is a nexus of new ideas.
nounsingularformallegal
A close connection or link between things, especially one that shows cause.
Grammar: Often used in law and politics with between.
Patterns
- a nexus between X and Y
Prosecutors argued there was a nexus between the donation and the contract.
The report found a nexus between poverty and crime.
A direct nexus must exist between the act and the harm.
Word forms
| plural | nexuses or nexus |
|---|
Common combinations
- nexus of power
- The palace was the nexus of power.
- a nexus between
- There is a nexus between education and income.
- a causal nexus
- The court sought a causal nexus.
- cultural nexus
- The city is a cultural nexus.
- at the nexus of
- The company sits at the nexus of art and technology.
Synonyms and how they differ
- hub
- Hub is more common and suggests a busy center of activity, while nexus stresses the connections.
- link
- Link is a simple connection between two things, whereas a nexus often joins many.
- junction
- Junction is a physical meeting point, usually of roads or tracks.
- connection
- Connection is general and neutral, but nexus sounds more formal and complex.
Opposites
Word family
- connect verb
- to join together
- connection noun
- a link
Practice
The port city became a ____ of trade between three continents.
Choose one answer.
A nexus is a point where many things connect. A niche is a small specialized place, and the other options are not sensible nouns here.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “nexus”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.