'pluricentric' originates from Latin and Greek, specifically from the Latin element 'pluri-' (from 'plures') meaning 'more' or 'many', and the Greek-derived element 'centric' (from Greek 'kentrikon' via Latin 'centricus', from 'kentron') meaning 'center'.

'pluricentric' was formed in modern English by combining the Latin-derived prefix 'pluri-' with the element 'centric' (from Late Latin/Greek roots 'centricus'/'kentrikos'), producing the compound adjective 'pluricentric'.

Initially it denoted the literal sense of 'having several centers'; over time it has been applied particularly to languages, political or cultural systems, and organizations to mean 'characterized by multiple authoritative or standard centers'.