Word
decentralization
Phoneticsde·cen·tral·iza·tion
/dɪˌsɛntɹəɫɪˈzeɪʃən/
UK spelling · decentralisation
Definition
n. the process of moving power or control away from a central place or person to smaller groups or local areas. It means that decisions are made closer to the people they affect.
n. the process of shifting power, authority, or control from a centralised location to a more distributed network of local or regional entities. Often used in political, economic, or organizational contexts to describe the dispersion of decision-making.
Examples
“The country is moving toward the decentralization of its power.”
“The decentralization of the company's operations allowed local managers to make faster decisions without waiting for approval from the headquarters.”
“The decentralization of the political system was intended to empower local communities, yet it often resulted in a lack of coordination and inconsistent policy implementation across different regions.”
Examples
simple
“The country is moving toward the decentralization of its power.”
contextual
“The decentralization of the company's operations allowed local managers to make faster decisions without waiting for approval from the headquarters.”
complex
“The decentralization of the political system was intended to empower local communities, yet it often resulted in a lack of coordination and inconsistent policy implementation across different regions.”
Real-World Examples
“This decentralization means Americans often have to wait longer for local election workers to tabulate votes, compile results and declare winners.” Etymology
From de- + centralization or decentralize + -ation.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.