In amateur radio, what is a "hot spot" typically referring to?

In amateur radio, a "hot spot" most commonly refers to a busy frequency where many stations are actively transmitting. This term is used to describe areas in the spectrum that experience high traffic, often because they are popular channels for operation or because specific events are prompting multiple operators to connect in that space. When radio operators encounter a hot spot, they may find it challenging to make their own contacts due to the dense occupancy of the frequency, indicating how lively and active that part of the amateur bands can be.

The other contexts, such as a location with exceptionally strong radio waves or a digital platform for enhanced communications, don’t accurately represent the entrenched usage of the term "hot spot" in amateur radio vernacular. Thus, identifying a frequency teeming with activity captures the essential definition.