centerpiece

noun

cen·​ter·​piece ˈsen-tər-ˌpēs 

ˈse-nər-

1

: an object occupying a central position

especially : an adornment in the center of a table

2

: one that is of central importance or interest in a larger whole

the centerpiece of a political agenda

Synonyms of centerpiece

• core
• essence
• heart
• root
• kernel
• point

Examples of centerpiece in a Sentence

resolution of the original dispute became the centerpiece of the negotiations

Recent Examples on the Web

Water and fertilize through the pipe, which will be hidden as the centerpiece plant grows. —ABC News, 7 Apr. 2026

The centerpiece of his 2023 NBA championship with the Nuggets was Nikola Jokic, arguably the best basketball player in the world. —Scott Fowler, Charlotte Observer, 6 Apr. 2026

The Wizards are talking about contending next season, once their centerpiece arrives through the draft. —Louisa Thomas, New Yorker, 5 Apr. 2026

The show was the centerpiece of the revitalization of New York City’s Times Square in the 1990s. —Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 5 Apr. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1803, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for centerpiece

• altarpiece
• frontispiece
• mantelpiece
• masterpiece
• pilates
• summarise
• syntheses
• apiece
• aris
• assise
• caprice
• cerise

Kids Definition

centerpiece

noun

cen·​ter·​piece ˈsent-ər-ˌpēs 

: a piece put in the center of something and especially a decoration (as flowers) for the center of a table