US /diˈsɛntɹəˌlaɪz/ UK /diːˈsɛntɹəlaɪz/
verb Freq #294113

Meanings

  1. 1
    verb

    To spread something out from one central place to several different locations.

    The firm decided to decentralize its operations across three regional offices.

  2. 2
    verb

    To distribute power away from a single central authority to smaller bodies.

    The reforms aimed to decentralize authority from the capital to local councils.

Thesaurus

Synonyms
1 verb · to spread something out... deconcentrate
Opposites
recentralize
Word family
Forms decentralizationdecentralizeddecentralizesdecentralizing
Derived forms decentralizabledecentralizer
Related forms decentralization

Etymology

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *de Proto-Italic *dē Latin dē Latin dē-der. English de- Proto-Indo-European *ḱent-der. Ancient Greek κέντρον (kéntron)der. Latin centrum Proto-Indo-European *h₂el-der.? Proto-Italic *-ālis Latin -ālis Latin centrālisbor. English central Proto-Indo-European *-id- Proto-Indo-European *-yéti Proto-Indo-European *-idyéti Proto-Hellenic *-íďďō Ancient Greek -ῐ́ζω (-ĭ́zō)bor. Late Latin -izōder. Middle French -iserbor. Middle English -isen English -ize English centralize English decentralize From de- + centralize.

Topics

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