centrist

noun

cen·​trist ˈsen-trist How to pronounce centrist (audio)
1
often capitalized : a member of a center party
2
: a person who holds moderate views
centrism noun
centrist adjective

Examples of centrist in a Sentence

The candidate hopes to appeal to centrists nationwide. the centrists will most likely rally behind the candidate who favors reforming the government program—not abolishing it entirely
Recent Examples on the Web President Joe Biden ran in 2020 as a centrist, but federal inter-vention defines his first term. Rich Karlgaard, Forbes, 26 Feb. 2024 With no time for a primary before the special election, Democrats nominated Suozzi, a political centrist well known to voters in the district. Anthony Izaguirre, Fortune, 14 Feb. 2024 Johnson’s pledge to reject it leaves Democrats and centrists in the House with one main option: Forcing consideration through a tool called a discharge petition, which would require a handful of Republicans to join with Democrats to get 218 signatures. USA TODAY, 13 Feb. 2024 Netanyahu’s radical new government stirred outrage among Israeli liberals and centrists. Aluf Benn, Foreign Affairs, 7 Feb. 2024 Easy: his gratuitous repulsing of conservative centrists like me. Richard Vatz, Baltimore Sun, 7 Feb. 2024 Mayorkas had honed a public image that was well suited for the moment—a centrist with a heart. Jonathan Blitzer, The New Yorker, 17 Feb. 2024 Democrats are no less divided than Republicans on border issues, between progressives opposed to tough restrictions and centrists eager for Biden to cut just about any immigration deal, to blunt what’s become a perilous election-year issue for their party. Shelby Grad, Los Angeles Times, 5 Jan. 2024 In 2020 and 2021, centrists and conservatives assailed leftists for endorsing steep cuts to police departments that were unpopular with large swaths of the public. Ross Barkan, New York Times, 7 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'centrist.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1872, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of centrist was in 1872

Dictionary Entries Near centrist

Cite this Entry

“Centrist.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/centrist. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

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