center of gravity

American  

noun

1. Mechanics. the point through which the resultant of gravitational forces on a body passes and from which the resultant force of attraction of the body on other bodies emanates: coincident with the center of mass in a uniform gravitational field.

2. a person, thing, or idea that is the vital or pivotal focus of interest or activity within a larger entity.

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center of gravity Scientific  

/ sĕn′tər /

1. The center of mass of an object in the presence of a uniform gravitational field.

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center of gravity Cultural  

1. The point in any solid where a single applied force could support it; the point where the mass of the object is equally balanced. The center of gravity is also called the center of mass. When a man on a ladder leans sideways so far that his center of gravity is no longer over his feet, he begins to fall.

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Etymology

Origin of center of gravity

First recorded in 1650–60

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Compare meaning

How does center-of-gravity compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• center of mass vs. center of gravity

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

center of gravity

While New York and Los Angeles remain DSA’s center of gravity, chapters are opening in spots like Catawba Valley in North Carolina and Concho Valley in West Texas.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 29, 2026

Now the Compton-reared Lacy can’t go anywhere in L.A. without shifting the center of gravity in a room.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 22, 2026

But it was also repurposed for the additional need of supporting our body weight vertically and maintaining our center of gravity, while still allowing the flexibility for us to move.

From Science Daily ● Jul. 11, 2026

“For most Americans, the foundational rule is to keep your financial center of gravity in the U.S.,” he says.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 2, 2026

I read in the newspaper that the center of gravity is twenty-six feet from the bottom of Cleopatra’s Needle.

From "The (Mostly) True Story of Cleopatra's Needle" by Dan Gutman

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