decentralization

noun

de·​cen·​tral·​i·​za·​tion (ˌ)dē-ˌsen-trə-lə-ˈzā-shən 

1

: the dispersion or distribution of functions and powers

a decentralization of powers

specifically, government : the delegation of power from a central authority to regional and local authorities

the decentralization of the state's public school system

government decentralization

2

sociology : the redistribution of population and industry from urban centers to outlying areas

decentralize

(ˌ)dē-ˈsen-trə-ˌlīz 

verb

Examples of decentralization in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Leaders who apply biological principles to business strategy—redundancy, decentralization, and continuous adjustment—will build organizations that don’t just withstand uncertainty but thrive because of it. —Scott Hutcheson, Forbes, 19 Mar. 2025

Syrians need to prepare a new constitution, one that probably ends up accommodating some form of decentralization and federalism—features of a future state that SDF leaders and those of other minority Syrian groups are determined to secure. —Robert S. Ford, Foreign Affairs, 5 Mar. 2025

Some investors also viewed the plan as antithetical to Bitcoin’s core ethos of decentralization and voluntary participation. —Tonya M. Evans, Forbes, 7 Mar. 2025

This is an area where Dorr exhibits some level of optimism, particularly about AI's potential for decentralization. —Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 4 Mar. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1846, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for decentralization

• acclimatisation
• acclimatization
• acidification
• actualization
• annualization
• autocorrelation
• autoregulation
• beatification
• beneficiation
• biodegradation
• biotransformation
• bureaucratization