biocentric
|bi-o-cen-tric|
🇺🇸
/ˌbaɪ.oʊˈsɛn.trɪk/
🇬🇧
/ˌbaɪəʊˈsɛn.trɪk/
life-centered
Etymology
'biocentric' originates from Greek and New Latin elements, specifically 'bios' and 'kentron', where 'bios' meant 'life' and 'kentron' meant 'center'.
'biocentric' developed in modern English as a compound of the combining form 'bio-' (from Greek 'bios') and the suffix '-centric' (from Greek 'kentron' via Latin/Old French forms of 'center'), forming the sense 'centered on life' in the 19th–20th century.
Initially formed to mean 'centered on life' (literally 'life-center'), the term has retained that core meaning while becoming specialized in ethical and ecological contexts to denote the philosophical position called biocentrism.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Adjective 1
relating to or characterized by biocentrism — the ethical view that all living organisms have intrinsic value, so humans are not inherently more important than other forms of life.
The committee adopted a biocentric policy, arguing that decision-making should consider the interests of animals and plants as well as humans.
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Adjective 2
centered on or focused principally on living organisms (used in ecology, conservation, or discussion of perspectives that prioritize biological life).
A biocentric approach to habitat restoration emphasizes native species' needs over human recreational uses.
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Last updated: 2025/10/10 16:17