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• central
  central

  adjective

  of or forming the center.
• Central
  Central

  noun

  a region in central Scotland. 1,016 sq. mi. (2,631 sq. km).

central

¹ American  

[sen-truhl] / ˈsɛn trəl /

adjective

1. of or forming the center.

   the central hut in the village.

2. in, at, or near the center.

   a central position.

3. constituting something from which other related things proceed or upon which they depend.

   a central office.

4. principal; chief; dominant.

   the play's central character.

   Synonyms:

   primary, leading, key, main, major

5. Anatomy, Zoology.

   1. of or relating to the central nervous system.

   2. of or relating to the centrum of a vertebra.

6. Phonetics. (of a speech sound) produced with the tongue articulating neither expressly forward nor in the back part of the mouth, as any of the sounds of lull.

7. Physics. (of a force) directed to or from a fixed point.

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noun

1. (formerly)

   1. a main telephone exchange.

   2. a telephone operator at such an exchange.

central ² American  

[sen-trahl, sen-trahl] / sɛnˈtrɑl, sɛnˈtrɑl /

noun

centrals, plural centrales plural

1. (in Spanish America and the Philippines) a mill for crushing cane into raw sugar.

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Central ³ American  

[sen-truhl] / ˈsɛn trəl /

noun

1. a region in central Scotland. 1,016 sq. mi. (2,631 sq. km).

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central British  

/ ˈsɛntrəl /

adjective

1. in, at, of, from, containing, or forming the centre of something

   the central street in a city

   the central material of a golf ball

2. main, principal, or chief; most important

   the central cause of a problem

3. 1. of or relating to the central nervous system

   2. of or relating to the centrum of a vertebra

4. of, relating to, or denoting a vowel articulated with the tongue held in an intermediate position halfway between the positions for back and front vowels, as for the a of English soda

5. (of a force) directed from or towards a point

6. informal (immediately postpositive) used to describe a place where a specified thing, quality, etc is to be found in abundance

   nostalgia central

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• centrally
  adverb

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• centrales
  plural
• centrals
  plural

Etymology

Origin of central¹

First recorded in 1620–30; from Latin centrālis, “centrally located,” equivalent to centr(um) center + -ālis -al ¹

Origin of central²

First recorded in 1885–90; from Latin American Spanish, special use of Spanish central central ¹

Explanation

Anything central is in the middle of something — or essential to it. Central things are fundamental and important. Think about the center of a circle: it's right in the middle, equidistant from all sides. Similarly, anything central is in the middle of something. The central part of a city is downtown. You can also say something central is an important, crucial part of something. National security is a central responsibility of the President. Communication is a central goal of writing. Central things are essential and key.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

central Central centrales centrals

He said President Prabowo Subianto has accepted the central bank chief’s resignation.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 27, 2026

I’ve thought about whether AI could eventually play a role of a central banker, detecting bubbles or risk buildup that humans might miss.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 27, 2026

Her friend, creative director Dana Sidell, says self-expression is central to how Weger lives her life.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 27, 2026

As he arrived, straightening his tie, to be confirmed in the top job in central London 10 days ago, I asked him why he'd taken so long.

From BBC ● Jul. 27, 2026

Many presidential biographers were willing to gaze past the cruelty that was central to slavery, along with the key role it played in the lives of some presidents.

From "In the Shadow of Liberty" by Kenneth C. Davis

The 10-year Bund yield faces upside resistance at year-to-date highs around 3.21%, while a rate hike by the European Central Bank in September is almost fully priced, the rates strategist says.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 27, 2026

The animals are believed to be one of the oldest living cat species and are native to the dry, rocky areas of Central Asia.

From Barron's ● Jul. 27, 2026

The focus then switched to a day in the life of the host city, with a dance section featuring the famous Glasgow Central Station clock.

From BBC ● Jul. 23, 2026

Traceback and outbreak data has linked shredded iceberg lettuce supplied to the Taco Bell locations to Taylor Farms’ facility, Taylor Farms de Mexico, located in Central Mexico.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 23, 2026

While the men were working, Annie and I walked across Central Park to Greywacke Knoll.

From "The (Mostly) True Story of Cleopatra's Needle" by Dan Gutman

Celia imagines the cane she cuts being ground in the centrales, and its thick sap collected in vats.

From "Dreaming in Cuban" by Cristina García

As at present organized, the force is divided into twenty-six brigades, one for each arrondissement and six companies, known as the reserve, formerly the brigades centrales.

From Paris From the Earliest Period to the Present Day; Volume 2 by Walton, William

The two sulci centrales sive fissuræ Rolandi run straight to the border of the hemisphere, less deeply impressed than is normally the case, without forming an angle with each other.

From The Mind of the Child, Part II The Development of the Intellect, International Education Series Edited By William T. Harris, Volume IX. by Preyer, William T.

Others, known as "colonos," are planters only, the crop being sold to the mills commonly called "centrales."

From Cuba, Old and New by Robinson, Albert G. (Albert Gardner)

At that time the Museum sent out to the Écoles centrales of the different departments of France named collections made up from the duplicates, and in this sort of drudgery Lamarck took an active part.

From Lamarck, the Founder of Evolution His Life and Work by Packard, A. S. (Alpheus Spring)

Heating to such houses is supplied by large plants known as TETs - an acronym that stands for "heat and electricity centrals" in Ukrainian as they generate electricity as well as heat.

From BBC ● Jan. 24, 2026

Its 15 "centrals" are pals with their customers, keep them in touch with local gossip.

From Time Magazine Archive

About the centrals was a new and unexpected enthusiasm.

From Time Magazine Archive

They claim that a majority of Cuba's 175 "centrals" are now operating at a loss or barely paying expenses.

From Time Magazine Archive

“Okay, two of them can go back in. Your centrals, or as you know them, your two front teeth,” Dr. Maris declared, looking pleased.

From "As Brave As You" by Jason Reynolds

Related Words

• basic
• essential
• fundamental
• important
• key
• paramount
• pivotal
• significant