centralism

American  

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

noun

1. a centralizing system; centralization.

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centralism British  

/ ˈsɛntrəˌlɪzəm /

noun

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

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Other Word Forms

• anticentralism noun
• anticentralist noun
• centralist noun
• centralistic adjective

Etymology

Origin of centralism

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

Example Sentences

The party also repealed its decadeslong ban on members of organizations operating under the Leninist principle of “democratic centralism,” effectively opening the group up to communists.

From The Wall Street Journal

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

From Washington Post

“EU competencies have clear boundaries, we must not remain silent when those boundaries are breached. So we are saying yes to European universalism, but we say no to European centralism,” he said.

From Reuters

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

They’re often seen as representatives of the Spanish nation, of centralism, even of the state.

From The Guardian