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centralism

American  
[sen-truh-liz-uhm] / ˈsɛn trəˌlɪz əm /

noun

  1. a centralizing system; centralization.


centralism British  
/ ˈsɛntrəˌlɪzəm /

noun

  1. the principle or act of bringing something under central control; centralization

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

Etymology

Origin of centralism

An Americanism dating back to 1825–35; central 1 + -ism

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

In a recent opinion article in Time magazine, Torres, the economist, urged Havana to "resist the temptation to leap from bureaucratic centralism to a harsh, socially detached form of capitalism."

From Barron's Jun. 24, 2026

Back then, fear of centralism sprang from populists such as William Jennings Bryan, who hankered for easier credit for farmers.

From Washington Post Jan. 21, 2022

They admire its ruthless centralism, its desire for conquest, its ability to maintain law and order—and its religious tolerance, which allowed Christianity and Islam to coexist.

From The Wall Street Journal Jul. 6, 2018

According to the principle of "democratic centralism," party rule would be exerted downward through a tightly knit administration.

From Time Magazine Archive

One embodies expectations characteristic of the context that relied upon literacy- homogeneity, hierarchy, centralism, tradition.

From The Civilization of Illiteracy by Nadin, Mihai

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