polycentric
pol-ee-SEN-trik
/ˌpɒliˈsentrɪk/
Having more than one center of control or interest.
Often used in political science to describe a world with many powerful nations, or in urban planning to describe a city with multiple business districts.
The story behind the word. A modern formation combining the Greek 'poly-' with 'kentron' (the sharp point of a compass, hence 'center'). It became popular in the 20th century to describe complex political and social structures.
Word relationships
- decentralized: Decentralized means moving away from one center; polycentric means having many centers simultaneously.
- monocentric: Having only one center.
Commonly confused with
- multilateral: Multilateral is about many parties working together; polycentric is about the structure of power having many centers.
Word family
- polycentrism (noun): The principle of having multiple centers of power.
Collocations
- polycentric world
- polycentric urban region
- polycentric governance
Example sentences
- "The post-Cold War era saw the world shift from a bipolar system to a polycentric one." International relations.
- "The city's polycentric development plan aims to reduce traffic by creating several commercial hubs outside the downtown area." Urban planning.
Memory hook
Poly (many) + Centric (centers). Multiple centers of gravity. Many centers.
When not to use
Avoid in simple contexts; it's a high-level term for complex systems.
Fun facts
- The concept of 'polycentric law' suggests a society where multiple legal systems coexist in the same territory.
Related words
Explore more words
multilateral, metropolis, multicultural, federation, decentralization, pluralism
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