Standard Lemma guide

endocentric

adj · noun · 4 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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No pronunciation record was provided for this word.

1

adj

Meaning 1

Focused or centered within itself, and not on something external.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: not-comparable

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

adj

Meaning 2

Fulfilling the same grammatical role as one of its constituents.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: not-comparable

Topics: grammar, human-sciences, linguistics, sciences

Examples

  • The noun "houseboat" is endocentric because "boat" is also a noun.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

noun

Meaning 3

An endocentric compound.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Topics: grammar, human-sciences, linguistics, sciences

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

4

adjective

Meaning 4

fulfilling the grammatical role of one of its constituents

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • when `three blind mice' serves as a noun it is an endocentric construction

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: exocentric

History

Etymology

From endo- + -centric.

Across languages

Translations

5 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Finnish: endosentrinen — (grammar, of a phrase or compound word) fulfilling the same grammatical role as one of its constituents
  • French: endocentrique — (grammar, of a phrase or compound word) fulfilling the same grammatical role as one of its constituents
  • German: endozentrisch — (grammar, of a phrase or compound word) fulfilling the same grammatical role as one of its constituents
  • Hungarian: endocentrikus — (grammar, of a phrase or compound word) fulfilling the same grammatical role as one of its constituents
  • Italian: endocentrico — (grammar, of a phrase or compound word) fulfilling the same grammatical role as one of its constituents