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polycentrism

Upper-Intermediate (B2)

IPA: /ˌpɒlɪˈsɛntrɪzəm/

KK: /pɑlɪˈsɛntrɪzəm/

noun
Definition

A system or situation where there are multiple centers of authority, control, or culture, rather than a single dominant one.


Example

The country's polycentrism allows for diverse cultural expressions and governance.


Conversation
Sloth A
Have you ever heard about polycentrism in politics?
Sloth B
Yeah, it’s that idea of having multiple centers of authority, right?
Sloth A
Exactly! It can really change how power is distributed in a country.
Sloth B
I find it fascinating how different cultures can coexist in such a system.

Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms
multicentrism
pluralism
diversity
Antonyms
monocentrism
uniformity
centralization
Root Explanation

Polycentrism → It is formed from "poly-" (from Greek "polus", meaning many) and "kentron" (from Greek, meaning center). The word describes a system or approach that has many centers of influence or authority.

Memory Tip

Think of 'many' ('poly-') centers ('kentron') working together — that's what polycentrism means.

Visually Confused Words

No commonly confused words.

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