Meanings
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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.
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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
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.