# centrality

/sɛnˈtæɫɪti/ (US) · /sɛntɹˈælɪti/ (UK) · CEFR C1 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/centrality
Updated: 2026-10-18

## Definition

the position of being in the middle of something and important to it. You use it to talk about why one thing matters more than the others around it.

For teachers: position at or near the centre of a system, group, or network, with the influence that such a position brings. In network analysis, refers to formal measures that rank nodes by structural importance.

## Examples

- The centrality of trust holds the team together.
- Urban planners discuss the centrality of the main station when they design new bus routes around the city.
- Scholars debate the centrality of trade networks in shaping early modern cities, arguing that economic links mattered more than political borders.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.