centrist
Americannoun
adjective
noun
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of centrist
From the French word centriste, dating back to 1870–75; see center, -ist
Explanation
A centrist is someone who has very moderate political views. Most centrists are against any big political shifts — either to the left or to the right. Some politicians like to describe themselves as centrists because it makes them sound very reasonable and balanced. In reality, centrists are rare in politics, since people tend to have strong opinions about issues including taxes, the size of government, and inequality. Centrist comes from the French centriste, ultimately from the Latin centrum, "center."
Vocabulary lists containing centrist
Red, White & Royal Blue
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Dianne Feinstein (1933–2023) Tribute List
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Sandra Day O'Connor (1930–2023) Tribute List
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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.
He is expected to name a centrist Labour lawmaker, Shabana Mahmood, as his treasury chief, a move also aimed at calming investor jitters.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 17, 2026
The Harris Interactive Toluna survey of more than 1,700 registered voters projected her winning, against Melenchon as well as centrist former prime ministers Gabriel Attal and Edouard Philippe.
From Barron's ● Jul. 7, 2026
Two independent Australian MPs have banded together to launch a new centrist political party which they say is a response to an increasingly divisive landscape.
From BBC ● Jun. 25, 2026
Rep. Ritchie Torres—a centrist, pro-Israel Democrat—handily won in the Bronx.
From Slate ● Jun. 24, 2026
Besides, Sid and I were the centrist party of two in our fresh-out-of-the-shell Place politics.
From The Big Time by Leiber, Fritz
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
