central

central, focal, pivotal are more closely comparable when they mean dominant or most important than when they refer to a literal or material point (as a center, focus, or pivot).

Central applies to what is regarded as the center because more important than all the rest in that everything else of the same kind depends on it or derives from it

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the central virtues . . . courage, honor, faithfulness, veracity, justice— Lippmann

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the central character in a story

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the central policy of a nation

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the central trouble with America is conformity, timorousness, lack of enterprise and audacity— Mencken

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Focal implies usually a center that is a focus (as of interest, concern, or significance) or that becomes the point on which or in which every or all attention, interest, or activity is concentrated

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the focal position of the president as formulator or expositor of the nation's opinion is obvious— Rossiter

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if we are to make some sense out of this galaxy of recorded experience we are in need of some focal ideas about which to organize the material— Kardiner

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The term occurs frequently in the phrase focal point which equals focus

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quite unaccustomed to being a focal point of interest on the part of such highbrows, I made the most of the situation, and was very extravagant in my replies— Sidney Lovett

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Focal may shift its emphasis and attribute such importance to the thing qualified as to suggest that it deserves to be the focus (as of attention or interest)

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Miss Grau's tendency to blur or confuse her own point of view with that of her focal characters— Peden

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the other focal elements in American policy toward Europe— Bundy

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Pivotal implies an importance that equals that of pivot (a fixed pin or axis upon which something turns) and suggests that the item so qualified is one on which some larger issue is wholly dependent and that it is therefore cardinal or vital

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so we return to the president as the pivotal point, the critical element in reaching decisions on foreign policy— Acheson

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something important is about to happen ... a succession of events that will be pivotal in her experience— DeVoto

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the pivotal issue in this controversy

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the presidential election will be decided by the vote in a few pivotal states

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Analogous words: *dominant, paramount, predominant, preponderant: outstanding, salient, signal (see NOTICEABLE): important, significant (see corresponding nouns at IMPORTANCE)