Do you know the definition of centrist? This article will provide you with all of the information you need on the word centrist, including its definition, usage, word origin, and more!
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September 12, 2021
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What does the word centrist mean?
According to Collins English Dictionary, the American Heritage Unabridged Dictionary of the English Language, and The Free Dictionary, a centrist is a person who has moderate political views. They are called centrists because they are at the political center, not left-leaning and aligned with liberalism and left-wing Democrats, and not right-leaning and aligned with right-wing conservatives and Republicans. Someone who is a member of a political party of the center has moderate political views and ideologies, and advocates for centrist policies. Many people believe Libertarians to be centrists, because they believe in being “socially liberal and fiscally conservative.” They might advocate against inequality and for social equality and political changes in their social centrist views, but their opinion on taxation, Medicare/Medicaid and social security may align more with moderate Republicans. Centrists separate themselves from political extremes on both sides of the spectrum, including leftists, the Democratic Party, and socialism as well as right-wingers, the Republican Party, and Stalinism or fascism.
This political philosophy shared views with both progressives and people in the opposite direction. It is not clear whether there is a significant shift of society toward acceptance of centrists and a growing number of centrist officials and presidential candidates. Do you think America has ever had a centrist president with a centrist political outlook? Are people willing to have cooperation with centrists or are they unwilling accomplices? The major political parties are Democrats and Republicans in Congress today and the whole of America today. These play a major role in deciding to raise taxes, global business policies, a display of unity, and more. Political language is often divided into a two party system. Centrists are not in a current position of dominance, but might be in a short time. There are also centrist Dems and centrist Republicans which may lean more toward one side of the spectrum, but have centrist policies people agree with and the premise of centrism in their policies.
Many different languages also contain words that mean centrist. You may notice that many of these translations of centrist look and sound similar to each other. These are called cognates, which are often formed when two words have the same root or language of origin. This list of translations of the word centrist is provided by Word Sense. You could also find translations in a Spanish Dictionary.
- German: moderat
- Romanian: moderat (masc.) (n), moderată (fem.)
- Georgian: ზომიერი
- Bokmål: (breeze) laber
- Scottish Gaelic: cuibheasach
- French: modéré (masc.), modérée (fem.)
- Russian: уме́ренный
- Irish: réasúnta
- Norman: modéthé
- Dutch: gematigd, matig
- Catalan: moderat
- Italian: moderato
- Finnish: maltillinen, kohtuullinen, kohtalainen, vaatimaton
- Spanish: moderado (masc.), moderada (fem.)
- Portuguese: moderado
- Czech: mírný
- Nynorsk: (breeze) laber
What is the origin of the word centrist?
According to Etymonline, the word centrist has been used since the year 1872 in c19. This word come s from the French centriste, and the Old French centre, a c14 word. This comes from the Latin centrum, Greek kentron and Greek kentein, and the Proto-Indo-European root kent. This is also the root of the Breton kentr, Welsh cethr, and Old High German hantag.
How can the word centrist be used in a sentence?
The word centrist can be used in many different ways in the English language. Using words in a sentence is a great way to memorize their definitions. You can also try making flashcards or a quiz to test your knowledge on the definitions of different English language words. Try using this new word of the day in a sentence today! Below are several examples of the word centrist to get you started.
Some people believe that the rise of centrist Americans began after World War II, though there is no consensus what the focus of attention on the White House is.
Britain and the rest of continental Europe were filled with liberals, conservatives, and centrists all advocating for different political ideologies. Some wanted to change the status quo with Brexit, while others wanted things to remain the same.
Her father supported Trump and her mother supported Bernie Sanders, so she did not know which political party to register for. She decided to remain a centrist and register as an independent until she gained the maturity to decide which party to join. She knew she needed to form her own opinions when she was out of her home.
The senior fellow regarded the independent populists and centrists as losers, but they were bright people and revisionists in New Zealand society.
What are synonyms and antonyms for the word centrist?
There are numerous different words that a person can use in place of the word centrist. These are called synonyms, which are words and phrases that have the same definition as another word or phrase. Learning synonyms is a great way to increase the size of your English language vocabulary as well as a way to avoid repeating yourself. This list of synonyms for the word centrist is provided by Power Thesaurus.
- middle-of-the-roader
- neuter
- uninvolved
- moderationist
- even
- uncontroversial
- half-and-half
- reasonable
- middle of the roader
- safe
- third world
- nonaligned
- compromiser
- fifty-fifty
- central
- mainstream
- moderate
- center
- uncommitted
- liberal
- passive
- apathetic
- impartial
- middle of the road
- centre
- third-party
- centrists
- moderatist
- accommodationist
- middle-of-the-road
- moderates
- indifferent
- conventional
- nonradical
- conservative
- non-radical
- midway
- noncommitted
- moderantist
- third-world
- on the fence
- nonextreme
- third-force
- nonpartisan
- neutral
- non-reactionary
There are also numerous different words that mean the opposite of the word centrist. These opposite words are called antonyms, which are another quick and easy way to expand your English vocabulary. This list of antonyms is also provided by Power Thesaurus.
- capital
- offbeat
- subversive
- advanced
- complete
- essential
- iconoclast
- demagogue
- free radical
- wide-ranging
- mutineer
- progressivist
- grand
- forward-thinking
- deep-seated
- anarchist
- communist
- group
- intrinsic
- rabid
- activist
- total
- broad
- demonstrator
- experimental
- renegade
- firebrand
- unconventional
- terrorist
- nihilist
- revisionist
- insurgent
- fresh
- fanatical
- severe
- innovative
- ultra
- nonconformist
- major
- prime
- agitator
- immoderate
- reformer
- leftist
- extremist
- underlying
- alternative
- liberal
- groundbreaking
- insurrectionist
- reformist
- guerrilla
- dissenter
- avant-garde
- basic
- basal
- rebel
- sweeping
- zealots
- root word
- revolutionary
- revolutionist
- protester
- left-wing
- forward-looking
- rioter
- socialist
- progressive
- left-winger
- profound
- organic
- unorthodox
- comprehensive
- far-reaching
- maverick
- all-embracing
- theme
- primary
- thorough
- insurrectionary
- incendiary
- militant
- root
- base
- stem
- extreme
- fundamental
- great
- underground
- thoroughgoing
- dissident
- extremists
- exhaustive
- zealot
- drastic
- radically
- fanatic
- extensive
- original
- dogmatist
Overall, the word centrist means someone who is politically moderate. This word is French and Latin in origin.
Sources:
- centrist: meaning, origin, translation | Word Sense
- Centrist antonyms – 22 Opposites of Centrist | Power Thesaurus
- Centrist synonyms – 46 Words and Phrases for Centrist | Power Thesaurus
- Centrist – definition of centrist | The Free Dictionary
- centrist | Origin and meaning of centrist | Online Etymology Dictionary
