centrist

or Cen·trist

[sen-trist]

noun

(especially in continental Europe) a member of a political party of the Center; moderate.

adjective

of or relating to centrists or to their political views; middle-of-the-road.

Origin of centrist

From the French word centriste, dating back to 1870–75. See center, -ist

Related formscen·trism, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for centrist

Contemporary Examples of centrist

Another dark horse, Tennessee Senator Al Gore, was finding little traction in his efforts to become a centrist alternative.
Want President Hillary? Then Primary Her
Jeff Greenfield
November 24, 2014
The centrist group thinks they can build centrist grassroots army.
No Labels’ Bid For The Big Time
Ben Jacobs
September 18, 2014
He is running as a centrist alternative to Tea Party-aligned GOP candidate Ben Sasse and Democrat Dave Domina, a trial lawyer.
Candidates in Maine, Nebraska, Massachusetts, and Washington, D.C., Challenge Republicans and Democrats Alike
Linda Killian
July 5, 2014
Last month, the centrist Democratic group Third Way released a study called “The State of the Center.”
Conservatives Are So Conservative They Think the Congressional GOP Are Moderate Squishes
Michael Tomasky
June 13, 2014
Webb believes he is just the sort of centrist leader who can break the Democrat-Republican stalemate in Washington.
Will It Be ‘President Jim Webb’?
Lloyd Grove
May 22, 2014

Historical Examples of centrist

Only on one of the Centrist benches was any sincere attention paid, like that of eager scholars to their master's explanations.
The conquest of Rome
Matilde Serao
Besides, Sid and I were the centrist party of two in our fresh-out-of-the-shell Place politics.
The Big Time
Fritz Reuter Leiber

British Dictionary definitions for centrist

centrist

noun

a person holding moderate political views

Derived Formscentrism, noun

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

Word Origin and History for centrist

1872, from French centriste, from centre (see center (n.)). Originally in English with reference to French politics; general application to other political situations is from 1890.

Where M. St. Hilaire is seen to most advantage, however, is when quietly nursing one of that weak-kneed congregation who sit in the middle of the House, and call themselves "Centrists." A French Centrist is--exceptis eoccipiendis--a man who has never been able to make up his mind, nor is likely to. ["Men of the Third Republic," London, 1873]