Center vs. Centre

Main Difference

The main difference between center and centre is that the word center belongs to American English whereas the word centre belongs to British English.

Center vs. Centre — Is There a Difference?
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Difference Between Center and Centre

Center vs. Centre

The word center refers to the middle point of something, and the spelling “center” is the American variant of this word, whereas the word centre belongs to the British English with the same meaning. This word (with both the spellings) is used as a noun as well as a verb.

Center vs. Centre

If you want to adopt American spelling then the correct word is center on the flip side; if you want to speak like a British person, the proper word is ‘centre.’

Center vs. Centre

In England, the word ‘center’ refers to the middle point of something, while ‘centre’ refers to the establishments, organizations, and structures, etc.

Center vs. Centre

Center is used worldwide to describe sporting positions in traditional American sports, e.g., American football and baseball, on the other hand, the centre is used worldwide to describe sporting positions in traditional British sports.

Center vs. Centre

Center is standard in American English; conversely, the centre has accepted the term in British English.

Centernoun

The point in the interior of a circle that is equidistant from all points on the circumference.

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Centrenoun

alternative spelling of center. There is evidence that this is an older spelling in the United States, especially in some place names.

Centernoun

The point in the interior of a sphere that is equidistant from all points on the circumference.

Centreverb

alternative spelling of center

Centernoun

The middle portion of something; the part well away from the edges.

Centrenoun

a low-lying region in central France

Centernoun

(geometry) The point on a line that is midway between the ends.

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Centrenoun

an area that is approximately central within some larger region;

it is in the center of townthey ran forward into the heart of the strugglethey were in the eye of the storm

Centernoun

(geometry) The point in the interior of any figure of any number of dimensions that has as its coordinates the arithmetic mean of the coordinates of all points on the perimeter of the figure (or of all points in the interior for a center of volume).

Centrenoun

a point equidistant from the ends of a line or the extremities of a figure

Centernoun

The subgroup (respectively, subring), denoted Z(G), of those elements of a given group (respectively, ring) G that commute with every element of G.

Centrenoun

a place where some particular activity is concentrated;

they received messages from several centers

Centernoun

A place where the greater part of some function or activity occurs.

shopping center, convention center, civic center, garment center, Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, Rockefeller Center

Centrenoun

the sweet central portion of a piece of candy that is enclosed in chocolate or some other covering

Centernoun

A topic that is particularly important in a given context.

the center of the controversythe center of attention

Centrenoun

a cluster of nerve cells governing a specific bodily process;

in most people the speech center is in the left hemisphere

Centernoun

(basketball) The player, generally the tallest, who plays closest to the basket.

Centrenoun

a building dedicated to a particular activity;

they were raising money to build a new center for research

Centernoun

(ice hockey) The forward that generally plays between the left wing and right wing and usually takes the faceoffs.

Centreverb

move into the center;

That vase in the picture is not centered

Centernoun

The person who holds the ball at the beginning of each play.

Centreverb

direct one's attention on something;

Please focus on your studies and not on your hobbies

Centernoun

(netball) A player who can go all over the court, except the shooting circles.

Centernoun

(soccer) A pass played into the centre of the pitch.

Centernoun

(rugby) One of the backs operating in a central area of the pitch, either the inside centre or outside centre.

Centernoun

(architecture) A temporary structure upon which the materials of a vault or arch are supported in position until the work becomes self-supporting.

Centernoun

(engineering) One of the two conical steel pins in a lathe, etc., upon which the work is held, and about which it revolves.

Centernoun

(engineering) A conical recess or indentation in the end of a shaft or other work, to receive the point of a center, on which the work can turn, as in a lathe.

Centernoun

(politics) The ensemble of moderate or centrist political parties.

Centeradjective

Of, at, or related to a center.

Centerverb

(transitive) To cause (an object) to occupy the center of an area.

He centered the heading of the document.

Centerverb

(transitive) To cause (some attribute, such as a mood or voltage) to be adjusted to a value which is midway between the extremes.

Centerverb

(transitive) To give (something) a central basis.

Centerverb

(intransitive) To concentrate on (something), to pay close attention to (something).

The plot centers on the life of a working-class family.The discussion centered around the recent issues.

Centerverb

(engineering) To form a recess or indentation for the reception of a center.

Centernoun

an area that is approximately central within some larger region;

it is in the center of townthey ran forward into the heart of the strugglethey were in the eye of the storm

Centernoun

the piece of ground in the outfield directly ahead of the catcher;

he hit the ball to deep center

Centernoun

a building dedicated to a particular activity;

they were raising money to build a new center for research

Centernoun

a point equidistant from the ends of a line or the extremities of a figure

Centernoun

the choicest or most essential or most vital part of some idea or experience;

the gist of the prosecutor's argumentthe heart and soul of the Republican Partythe nub of the story

Centernoun

the object upon which interest and attention focuses;

his stories made him the center of the party

Centernoun

a cluster of nerve cells governing a specific bodily process;

in most people the speech center is in the left hemisphere

Centernoun

the middle of a military or naval formation;

they had to reinforce the center

Centernoun

(basketball) the person who plays center on a basketball team

Centernoun

(football) the person who plays center on the line of scrimmage and snaps the ball to the quarterback;

the center fumbled the handoff

Centernoun

a place where some particular activity is concentrated;

they received messages from several centers

Centernoun

politically moderate persons; centrists

Centernoun

(ice hockey) the person who plays center on a hockey team

Centernoun

the sweet central portion of a piece of candy that is enclosed in chocolate or some other covering

Centernoun

mercantile establishment consisting of a carefully landscaped complex of shops representing leading merchandisers; usually includes restaurants and a convenient parking area; a modern version of the traditional marketplace;

a good plaza should have a movie housethey spent their weekends at the local malls

Centernoun

the position on a hockey team of the player who participates in the face off at the beginning of the game

Centernoun

the position of the player on the line of scrimmage who puts the ball in play;

it is a center's responsibility to get the football to the quarterback

Centernoun

a position on a basketball team of the player who participates in the center jump to start the game

Centerverb

center upon;

Her entire attention centered on her childrenOur day revolved around our work

Centerverb

direct one's attention on something;

Please focus on your studies and not on your hobbies

Centerverb

move into the center;

That vase in the picture is not centered

Centeradjective

equally distant from the extremes

Centeradjective

of or belonging to the political or intellectual right

Comparison Chart

CenterCentre
The American spelling variant which refers to the middle point of somethingThe British spelling variant which refers to the middle point of something
In England
Refers to the center of somethingRefers to the establishments or structures
Word
OlderNewer
Accepted In
American EnglishBritish English

Center vs. Centre

The terms center and centre are often confusing for many people. They are the two same words with a different spelling. The word center and centre hold the same meaning. The difference between both words is the place in which the word is used. The word center belongs to American English. The word centre belongs to British English.

American English and British English have regional and local variations. These variations lie in spoken as well as written English. The proper word is the centre to speak in the British style. But if you want to adopt American spelling, then the correct word is center.

The meaning of the word center/centre is, “the middle point, the point within a regular polygon equally distant from the vertices, or the point within a circle or sphere equally distant from all points of the circumference or surface.” The words center and center can cause problems in the context, meaning or message if you are not careful in their usage.

The center is used in the world to describe the sporting positions in traditional sports of America. For example, American football and American baseball. The word centre is used in the world to describe the sporting positions in British traditional sports. For example, the center and center-forward in rugby.

In England, these two words are also used differently. ‘Center’ refers to the center of something, while ‘centre’ refers to the establishments or structures. Although Americans sometimes adopt the British spelling in their establishments or businesses to give them a little more class. The example of it is, “There are many ‘theatre centres’ in the mall-towns of America.”

What is Center?

The word center is a verb as well as a noun. The meaning of the center is “to position anything in the middle of an area which is predetermined.” Center aims at finding the middle, to revolve around the main topic.” For example, Before practicing yoga, you must center yourself in the present moment to practice it effectively as a noun center refers to the middle point of something.

Center also refers to any organization, e.g., the “Pew Research Center.” Also, it refers to a building or place used for activities, e.g., “the athletic center on a college campus.” The word center is commonly seen in American English. It is relatively new spellings than its variant centre.

The origination the word center dates back to late Middle English. It derives from Old French, or Latin “centrum,” from Greek “kentron” that means ‘sharp and stationary point of a pair of compasses.’ It is related to “kentein,” which means ‘to prick.’

Some other meanings or synonyms of the center are “point, axis, pivot, etc., around which anything rotates or revolves. Moreover, the center also holds the meaning “the source of an action, influence, or force, upon which emotions or interests are focused. Center can be a principal point, object, or place.

Examples

  • The textile industry was centered in the Lancashire and Yorkshire. (as a verb)
  • There was a delicious, candied cherry at the center of my chocolate cake. (as a noun)

What is Centre?

The word centre belongs to British English. The meaning of the word centre is, “the middle point, the point within a regular polygon equally distant from the vertices, or the point within a circle or sphere equally distant from all points of the circumference or surface.” There are variations of this word centre in England. ‘Centre’ refers to various establishments or structures.

The word centre is used in the world to describe the sporting positions in British traditional sports — for example, the centre and centre forward in rugby. Centre is also used as an alternative word for “center’ and holds the same meaning as center. But this use is not common.

Americans sometimes adopt the British spelling in their establishments or businesses to give them a little more class. The example of it is, “There are many ‘theatre centres’ in the mall-towns of America.” Centre is the older term than its American variant center. It later became specified to American English as ‘center.’ This specification occurred during the period of rapid linguistic evolution when the US started expanding its influence.

The word “centre” is used in Britain and other countries that have adopted the British system of spelling. The examples of such countries are India and Canada. It is also used in America for institutions or certain place names such as Alabama, Centre, Centre College in Kentucky, and the Centre Region of Haiti.

Examples

  • “Tesco is shutting two of its United Kingdom distribution centres which will create more than 1000 redundancies at the supermarket.” (The Telegraph)
  • “Centre Region,” France.
  • Centre for Library/Environmental Sciences and Engineering
Conclusion

The terms center and centre have the same meaning but spelled differently. The difference between both the variants of the same word is due to its different roots in American and British English.