centerpiece

noun

cen·​ter·​piece ˈsen-tər-ˌpēs 

ˈse-nər-

1

: an object occupying a central position

especially : an adornment in the center of a table

2

: one that is of central importance or interest in a larger whole

the centerpiece of a political agenda

Synonyms

• bottom line
• bull's-eye
• core
• crux
• essence
• gist
• heart
• kernel
• keynote
• meat
• meat and potatoes
• net
• nub
• nubbin
• nucleus
• pith
• pivot
• point
• root
• sum

Examples of centerpiece in a Sentence

resolution of the original dispute became the centerpiece of the negotiations

Recent Examples on the Web

Porter is the grandson of a barber who worked at Calvin’s barbershop in Chicago, the centerpiece of the Barbershop movie trilogy. —Armon Sadler, VIBE.com, 13 May 2025

The chat is a living organism, the centerpiece of a good streamer’s channel. —Jeff Ihaza, Rolling Stone, 8 May 2025

The centerpiece of that plan is a reconciliation package 100 percent reliant on Republicans in Congress to pass. —Martha McHardy, MSNBC Newsweek, 6 May 2025

An historic desk once belonging to the three-time Pulitzer Prize finalist is the centerpiece of The Writer’s Room, an intimate space that revives the pre-war tradition of hotel writing rooms. —Greg Carannante, Sun Sentinel, 6 May 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1803, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for centerpiece

• altarpiece
• frontispiece
• mantelpiece
• masterpiece
• pilates
• summarise
• syntheses
• apiece
• aris
• assise
• caprice
• cerise

Kids Definition

centerpiece

noun

cen·​ter·​piece ˈsent-ər-ˌpēs 

: a piece put in the center of something and especially a decoration (as flowers) for the center of a table