centerpiece

American  

[sen-ter-pees] / ˈsɛn tərˌpis /

noun

1. an ornamental object used in a central position, especially on the center of a dining-room table.

2. the central or outstanding point or feature.

   The centerpiece of the evening was a play put on by the employees.

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Etymology

Origin of centerpiece

First recorded in 1830–40; center + piece

Explanation

The centerpiece of something is literally the piece that goes in the center — the centerpiece of a table setting might be a candle surrounded by roses. Centerpiece also refers to the most important part of something. Although it often refers to the decoration in the middle of a table, a centerpiece is the most important and noteworthy part of anything. The Thinker is the centerpiece of the Rodin Museum in Philadelphia. An indoor lagoon is the centerpiece of the Tonga Room in San Francisco. The right to vote became a centerpiece of the women’s rights movement in the late 1800’s. No matter what it is, a centerpiece should be impressive.

Example Sentences

Most people know about the centerpiece of NATO’s treaty, Article 5, which states, “An armed attack against one or more of them in Europe or North America shall be considered an attack against them all.”

From Slate • Apr. 9, 2026

Two scrolls from the Egyptian ‘Book of the Dead,’ one newly restored, form the breathtaking centerpiece of a show that reveals the considerable art involved in the ancient civilization’s burial rites.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 31, 2026

The Jobs demo was a centerpiece of my 1999 book about Xerox PARC, “Dealers of Lightning.”

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 24, 2026

The engaging and often heartwrenching connection between the two is the film’s emotional centerpiece.

From Salon • Mar. 21, 2026

I’m supposed to make a centerpiece out of waxed maple leaves, acorns, ribbon, and a mile of thin wire.

From "Speak" by Laurie Halse Anderson

Related Words

• climax
• focal point