Definition

Noun: 1. A central or focal point; a connected series or group: A nexus is a central link or connection that ties together a series of things, ideas, or events. It represents the core where different elements converge or are interconnected. 2. The means of connection between linked things: It refers to the bond, link, or tie itself that creates a relationship within a series.

Examples

• As a central connecting point:
  • The city's main square is the nexus of all cultural and social activity.
  • The internet has become the primary nexus for global communication and information exchange.
• As a connection or series of connections:
  • The detective tried to understand the nexus between the victim and the three suspects.
  • The book explores the complex nexus of power, money, and politics.

Advanced Usage

• "Causal nexus": A specific term used in philosophy, law, and science to describe a chain or relationship of cause and effect.
  • The study aimed to prove the causal nexus between smoking and lung disease.

Variants and Related Words

• Nexuses (plural): The standard plural form.
  • Several communication nexuses were established across the region.
• Nexus can also function attributively (like an adjective) in compound nouns, though these are considered separate terms:
  • Nexus point: A specific point of connection or convergence.

Synonyms

• Center: The middle point or main focus.
• Core: The central or most important part.
• Hub: A central point of activity or connection (often for transport or networks).
• Link: A relationship or connection between things.
• Connection: A relationship in which something is linked or associated.

Related Phrases

• At the nexus of: Used to describe being at the central connecting point of different elements.
  • She found herself at the nexus of a major international negotiation.

Notes on Meaning

The word nexus emphasizes a meaningful or structural connection, not just a simple, single link. It often implies a network or a web of relationships where the connected parts influence each other. It is a more formal term than "link" or "connection."

Noun

1. a connected series or group
2. the means of connection between things linked in series