centrifugal

1 of 2

adjective

cen·​trif·​u·​gal sen-ˈtri-fyə-gəl 

-ˈtri-fi-,

 especially British  ˌsen-tri-ˈfyü-gəl

1

: proceeding or acting in a direction away from a center or axis

centrifugal acceleration of a body

2

: using or acting by centrifugal force

a centrifugal pump

3

: efferent

centrifugal nerves of the heart

4

: tending away from centralization : separatist

centrifugal tendencies in modern society

centrifugally

sen-ˈtri-fyə-gə-lē 

-ˈtri-fi-

 especially British  ˌsen-tri-ˈfyü-gə-

adverb

centrifugal

2 of 2

noun

: a centrifugal machine or a drum in such a machine

Did you know?

Centrifugal and Science

Centrifugal force is what keeps a string with a ball on the end taut when you whirl it around. A centrifuge is a machine that uses centrifugal force. At the end of a washing machine's cycle, it becomes a weak and simple centrifuge as it whirls the water out of your clothes. Centrifuges hundreds of thousands of times as powerful are essential to nuclear technology and drug manufacturing. Part of an astronaut's training occurs in a centrifuge that generates force equal to several times the force of gravity (about like a washing machine) to get them used to the forces they'll encounter in a real space mission.

Examples of centrifugal in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Donald Trump’s threats have, almost overnight, caused a famously divided and centrifugal nation to cohere into a single national front. —Adam Gopnik, New Yorker, 21 Apr. 2025

The most well-known is probably central centrifugal cicatricial alopecia (CCCA), which was first identified in 1968 and is now one of the leading forms of hair loss among Black women. —Zahra Spencer, Allure, 24 June 2025

Noun

The changes in both centrifugal and shearing forces acting on the raft are quite small—maybe 2 percent to 3 percent the force of normal gravity. —Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, 16 Sep. 2022

Made from food-grade stainless steel, the 65-pound PURE does, as the name suggests, require more steps than a typical centrifugal or masticating juicer. —Alyson Sheppard, Robb Report, 5 Aug. 2021

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

New Latin centrifugus, from centr- + Latin fugere to flee — more at fugitive

First Known Use

Adjective

1709, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

1813, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing centrifugal

• centrifugal force

Rhymes for centrifugal

• bugle
• frugal
• fugal
• google
• kugel

Kids Definition

centrifugal

adjective

cen·​trif·​u·​gal

sen-ˈtrif-yə-gəl,

-ˈtrif-i-gəl

1

: proceeding or acting in a direction away from a center or axis

2

: using or acting by centrifugal force

Etymology

Adjective

from scientific Latin centrifugus "centrifugal," literally, "fleeing from the center," from centri- "center" and -fugus, from Latin fugere "to run away, flee" — related to fugitive, refugee

Medical Definition

centrifugal

adjective

cen·​trif·​u·​gal sen-ˈtrif-yə-gəl, -ˈtrif-i-gəl 

: passing outward (as from a nerve center to a muscle or gland) : efferent

centrifugally

-gə-lē 

adverb