centrality: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Formal, academic, technical
Quick answer
What does “centrality” mean?
The state or quality of being central, important, or essential.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The state or quality of being central, important, or essential.
The degree to which something is positioned at the centre of a system, network, or concept, or the extent of its importance or influence within that system.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning or usage. Spelling is identical.
Connotations
Slightly more common in British academic writing in social sciences; equally technical in American usage.
Frequency
Low frequency in everyday speech in both varieties, but standard in formal and academic registers.
Grammar
How to Use “centrality” in a Sentence
the centrality of [NOUN PHRASE] to [NOUN PHRASE]emphasise/highlight/underscore the centrality of Xdemonstrate the centrality of X in YVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “centrality” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- [No direct verb form. Related verb: 'centralise'.]
American English
- [No direct verb form. Related verb: 'centralize'.]
adverb
British English
- The statue is centrally placed in the square.
- The issue is centrally important to the debate.
American English
- The hotel is centrally located downtown.
- This figure is centrally relevant to our analysis.
adjective
British English
- The city's central location gave it strategic importance.
- This is a central concern for the committee.
American English
- The park's central location makes it a hub for activity.
- A central tenet of the philosophy is compassion.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used in strategy discussions, e.g., 'The centrality of customer experience to our brand.'
Academic
Common in sociology, geography, network theory, and literary analysis, e.g., 'The paper argues for the centrality of gender in understanding the period.'
Everyday
Rare. Might be used in formal discussions, e.g., 'We discussed the centrality of trust in a relationship.'
Technical
Used in mathematics (graph theory), urban planning, and transport studies, referring to node centrality measures.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “centrality”
Strong
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “centrality”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “centrality”
- Using it as a countable noun (e.g., 'a centrality' – usually uncountable).
- Overusing in informal contexts where 'importance' or 'key role' would be more natural.
- Misspelling as 'centralyty' or 'centralety'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is a formal, academic word. In everyday conversation, people are more likely to say 'importance', 'key role', or 'central role'.
Yes, it can refer to physical position (e.g., 'the centrality of the railway station'), but it is more frequently used for abstract importance or position within a system.
'Centrality' often implies importance derived from being at the core or centre of a system, network, or concept. 'Importance' is a more general term for significance.
The related action/process verb is 'centralize' (US) / 'centralise' (UK). 'Centrality' is the abstract noun describing the state or quality.
The state or quality of being central, important, or essential.
Centrality is usually formal, academic, technical in register.
Centrality: in British English it is pronounced /ˌsenˈtræl.ə.ti/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌsenˈtræl.ə.t̬i/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[None directly associated with the noun 'centrality']”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a CENTRAL city. CENTRAL-ITY is the quality of being like that central point – essential and in the middle of things.
Conceptual Metaphor
IMPORTANCE IS CENTRALITY (e.g., 'That idea is central to the theory.'). SYSTEMS ARE NETWORKS WITH CENTRES AND PERIPHERIES.
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the word 'centrality' LEAST likely to be used?