centrality
|cen-tral-i-ty|
/sɛnˈtrælɪti/
being at the center; importance
Etymology
'centrality' originates from Latin, specifically from elements related to 'centralis' and 'centrum', where 'centrum' meant 'center' and the suffix '-ity' derives from Latin '-itas' meaning 'state or condition'.
'centrality' developed through a path from Greek 'kentron' (κέντρον) meaning 'sharp point, center' to Latin 'centrum', then to Medieval Latin forms like 'centralis', and finally entered English as 'central' with the noun-forming suffix '-ity' to give 'centrality'.
Initially it referred mainly to the physical quality of being at or near the center; over time it broadened to mean importance or prominence and later acquired technical senses (for example, measures in network analysis).
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
the quality or state of being at the center (spatially or positionally).
The centrality of the town square made it a natural meeting place.
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Noun 2
the importance or prominence of something within a system or context.
The centrality of education in social policy debates is widely acknowledged.
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Noun 3
a measure in network analysis that quantifies how central or influential a node is (e.g., degree centrality, betweenness centrality).
Degree centrality is one way to measure a node's centrality in a network.
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Last updated: 2025/12/09 20:02