English Reference
Adjective

decentralized

adj.
C1 Advanced US /dɪˈsɛntɹəˌɫaɪzd/ de·cen·tral·ized UK spelling decentralised

adj.describing a system where power or control is spread out among many people or places instead of one central leader.

adj.characterised by the distribution of administrative powers or functions over a less concentrated area; not controlled by a single central authority.


SIMPLE

The company uses a decentralized system for making local decisions.

CONTEXTUAL

A decentralized network is often more resilient because there is no single point of failure that can crash the whole system.

COMPLEX

The shift toward a decentralized governance model allowed individual regional offices to tailor their strategies to local market conditions without waiting for approval from the head office.

Usage

Often used to describe organizational structures, computer networks, or political systems. Frequently follows a linking verb or precedes a noun.

It is built on a decentralised system called Nostr, meaning it is not controlled by a single company in the same way as platforms such as TikTok or Instagram.

BBC News· 20 Aug 2026

My research on white nationalism shows how contemporary extremist movements rely less on formal membership and more on decentralized digital spaces.

The Conversation· 20 Aug 2026
This entry
Level C1 · Advanced
Frequency Frequent
Updated