local area network
noun
: a network of personal computers in a small area (such as an office) for sharing resources (such as a printer) or exchanging data
called also LAN
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the Web All of these describe private cellular, which effectively takes cellular technology and repurposes it for use on your enterprise local area network (LAN). 
Jennifer Minella, Forbes, 10 Nov. 2021 When the devices, intended to remain on local area networks, become exposed to the public Internet, perhaps unintentionally through misconfigurations, that's when problems arise. Robert Hackett, Fortune, 19 Sep. 2019 Basically, Oppo devices will be able to create ad hoc local area networks across a wide area and communicate directly to each other without the need for base stations. Sam Byford, The Verge, 26 June 2019 The standards are organized into groups; IEEE 802 covers all local area network standards. Peter Bright, Ars Technica, 3 Oct. 2018 Dial-up Wide-Area Network Game Operation—service, which launched in 1994, though the most popular (and most fun) way of playing was to have a LAN (local area network) party in which players tethered their computers and blasted away at each other. The Strong Museum Of Play, Ars Technica, 2 June 2018 So in addition to the radio network backbone, Cisco and Dimension Data installed wired local area networks at each of the reserve's four vehicle gates. Sean Gallagher, Ars Technica, 6 June 2018 For the first time, researchers have exploited the Rowhammer memory-chip weakness using nothing more than network packets sent over a local area network. Dan Goodin, Ars Technica, 10 May 2018 See More
Jennifer Minella, Forbes, 10 Nov. 2021 When the devices, intended to remain on local area networks, become exposed to the public Internet, perhaps unintentionally through misconfigurations, that's when problems arise. Robert Hackett, Fortune, 19 Sep. 2019 Basically, Oppo devices will be able to create ad hoc local area networks across a wide area and communicate directly to each other without the need for base stations. Sam Byford, The Verge, 26 June 2019 The standards are organized into groups; IEEE 802 covers all local area network standards. Peter Bright, Ars Technica, 3 Oct. 2018 Dial-up Wide-Area Network Game Operation—service, which launched in 1994, though the most popular (and most fun) way of playing was to have a LAN (local area network) party in which players tethered their computers and blasted away at each other. The Strong Museum Of Play, Ars Technica, 2 June 2018 So in addition to the radio network backbone, Cisco and Dimension Data installed wired local area networks at each of the reserve's four vehicle gates. Sean Gallagher, Ars Technica, 6 June 2018 For the first time, researchers have exploited the Rowhammer memory-chip weakness using nothing more than network packets sent over a local area network. Dan Goodin, Ars Technica, 10 May 2018 See More Word History
First Known Use
1969, in the meaning defined above
Kids Definition
local area network
noun
: a computer network that covers a small area (as an office building or a home)