Center vs. Centre
Main DifferenceThe main difference between center and centre is that the word center belongs to American English whereas the word centre belongs to British English.
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.
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.
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 stormCenternoun
(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 centersCenternoun
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 CenterCentrenoun
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 attentionCentrenoun
a cluster of nerve cells governing a specific bodily process;
in most people the speech center is in the left hemisphereCenternoun
(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 researchCenternoun
(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 centeredCenternoun
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 hobbiesCenternoun
(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 stormCenternoun
the piece of ground in the outfield directly ahead of the catcher;
he hit the ball to deep centerCenternoun
a building dedicated to a particular activity;
they were raising money to build a new center for researchCenternoun
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 storyCenternoun
the object upon which interest and attention focuses;
his stories made him the center of the partyCenternoun
a cluster of nerve cells governing a specific bodily process;
in most people the speech center is in the left hemisphereCenternoun
the middle of a military or naval formation;
they had to reinforce the centerCenternoun
(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 handoffCenternoun
a place where some particular activity is concentrated;
they received messages from several centersCenternoun
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 mallsCenternoun
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 quarterbackCenternoun
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 workCenterverb
direct one's attention on something;
Please focus on your studies and not on your hobbiesCenterverb
move into the center;
That vase in the picture is not centeredCenteradjective
equally distant from the extremes
Centeradjective
of or belonging to the political or intellectual right
Comparison Chart
| Center | Centre |
| The American spelling variant which refers to the middle point of something | The British spelling variant which refers to the middle point of something |
| In England | |
| Refers to the center of something | Refers to the establishments or structures |
| Word | |
| Older | Newer |
| Accepted In | |
| American English | British 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
ConclusionThe 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.
