centrist

noun

cen·​trist ˈsen-trist 

1

often Centrist : a member of a center party

2

: a person who holds moderate views

centrism

ˈsen-ˌtri-zəm 

noun

centrist adjective

Synonyms of centrist

• moderate
• middle-of-the-roader

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

Paloma Valencia, a candidate for the conservative Centro Democrático party who was a protégé of right-wing former Colombian President Álvaro Uribe and pitched herself as a centrist who could build coalitions, was forecast as a candidate who could advance to the second round. —Raquel Coronell Uribe, NBC news, 1 June 2026

The centrist San José mayor hasn’t spent enough time in his current job to prove himself to voters beyond the San Francisco Peninsula. —George Skelton, Mercury News, 1 June 2026

Year after year, the election map has changed, but liberal centrists have usually remained on top. —National Correspondent, Los Angeles Times, 31 May 2026

The unrest presents the biggest challenge yet for Paz, a business-friendly centrist who came to power six months ago as a wave of conservative electoral wins swept the region. —ABC News, 19 May 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1872, in the meaning defined at sense 1