Central Powers

American  

plural noun

1. (in World War I) Germany and Austria-Hungary, often with their allies Turkey and Bulgaria, as opposed to the Allies.

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Central Powers British  

plural noun

1. European history

   1. (before World War I) Germany, Italy, and Austria-Hungary after they were linked by the Triple Alliance in 1882

   2. (during World War I) Germany and Austria-Hungary, together with their allies Turkey and Bulgaria

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Central Powers Cultural  

1. Germany and its allies (Austria-Hungary, Bulgaria, and the Ottoman Empire) in World War I.

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Compare meaning

How does central-powers compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• Allies vs. Central Powers

Example Sentences

In addition to her lamb auction, the family asked for donations for the air ambulance in lieu of funeral flowers.

From BBC • Nov. 13, 2023

“Memento Mori,” though, is death-obsessed even by Depeche standards, with lyrics full of ghosts, angels and funeral flowers.

From New York Times • Mar. 19, 2023

Rendering bright sprays of funeral flowers on the street corner where Freelander died, Jefferson reminds us that the city is and has always been full of bright talent, some that have left too soon.

From New York Times • Jul. 2, 2021

Miss Donovan was arrested when she tried to insert an anti-Judge Thayer placard among the funeral flowers.

From Time Magazine Archive

Elaborate funeral cars stood along the curb, one a dull black with windows shaped like Gothic arches, through which I saw funeral flowers piled upon a casket.

From "Invisible Man" by Ralph Ellison