nexus

American  

[nek-suhs] / ˈnɛk səs /

noun

nexuses, plural nexus plural

1. a means of connection; tie; link.

2. a connected series or group.

3. the core or center, as of a matter or situation.

4. Cell Biology. a specialized area of the cell membrane involved in intercellular communication and adhesion.

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nexus British  

/ ˈnɛksəs /

noun

1. a means of connection between members of a group or things in a series; link; bond

2. a connected group or series

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• nexus
  plural
• nexuses
  plural

Etymology

Origin of nexus

First recorded in 1655–65; from Latin nexus “a binding, joining, fastening,” noun use of past participle of nectere “to bind, join, tie”

Explanation

A nexus is a central link or connection. If you happen to be at the nexus of something, you are right in the middle of it, like standing in the middle of an intersection. Nexus entered English during the 17th century from the Latin word nectere, meaning "to bind or tie." People tend to use this word to describe the point where different things or ideas come together or intersect. In the field of cell biology, a nexus refers to a specialized area of the cell membrane that facilitates communication and adhesion between adjacent cells. By allowing ions and molecules to pass through, these nexuses ensure that tissues can function as a coordinated unit.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

nexus nexuses

The latest rise came as SpaceX announced it will acquire artificial intelligence coding startup Cursor for $60 billion, a deal designed to further cement the Texas-based company near the nexus of the AI boom.

From Barron's ● Jun. 16, 2026

That puts McLeod at the heart of The Fellowship’s Michigan nexus.

From Salon ● Jun. 9, 2026

And Rossetti isn’t alone in seeing a spiritual nexus of a topic that, at least in secular circles, is more commonly discussed in the context of aliens.

From Slate ● Jun. 8, 2026

The PJM job “was this perfect nexus of all these issues that would scare most people away,” he says.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 5, 2026

To people like Jud and Frank, who were there every time the doors opened, it was the nexus of the universe.

From "The Secret History" by Donna Tartt

These regulations should apply broadly, especially to companies with key nexuses in the supply chain like the “hyperscalers” that dominate the cloud computing sector, water and energy infrastructure, and key cybersecurity services providers.

From Barron's ● Nov. 13, 2025

Libraries are the nexuses of democratized access to culture, community expertise, diverse perspectives on history and the instruments that further that knowledge.

From Salon ● Mar. 30, 2025

But most of the remaining nexuses, you said, have dropped off.

From New York Times ● Dec. 1, 2022

His loved ones and others who were close to him, like disease-trackers and the bereaved worldwide, are left to ponder and agonize, plumbing memories, retracing steps, searching for nexuses.

From Washington Post ● Apr. 3, 2020

Grooming isn’t the only thing on the menu at these communal nexuses where problems, political and personal, are raised before a chorus of voices.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 14, 2018