Word
devolution
Phoneticsde·vo·lu·tion
US/ˌdɛvəˈɫuʃən/
UK/dɪvəlˈuːʃən/
Definition
n. the moving of power or responsibility from a central government to a local or regional one. It allows local people to make more of their own decisions.
n. the transfer or delegation of power to a lower level, especially by central government to local or regional administration. Refers to the decentralisation of authority within a political system.
Examples
“The country voted for the devolution of power to regional parliaments.”
“Political analysts argue that devolution has allowed the regional government to tailor its healthcare policies to the specific needs of its citizens.”
“The debate over constitutional devolution often centers on whether the central authority retains enough power to maintain national unity while granting sufficient autonomy to local assemblies.”
Examples
simple
“The country voted for the devolution of power to regional parliaments.”
contextual
“Political analysts argue that devolution has allowed the regional government to tailor its healthcare policies to the specific needs of its citizens.”
complex
“The debate over constitutional devolution often centers on whether the central authority retains enough power to maintain national unity while granting sufficient autonomy to local assemblies.”
Usage
Often used in political and legal contexts; frequently followed by the preposition 'of' and 'to'.
Real-World Examples
Common in health writing
“The changes were criticised by the Conservatives and Reform UK for taking power away from local communities in contrast to Andy Burnham’s promise that he would increase devolution to councils .” “Experts are hoping the prime minister’s devolution plans to give regional areas the independence to adapt their approach to local conditions will help learners outside London.” “As a microbiologist and infectious disease clinician, it has been tough to watch the recent devolution of public discourse on Covid-19 origins.” “So far, Andy Burnham’s statements on education have pointed to devolution as his preferred method of rebalancing the system, along with a renewed focus on vocational options including new GCSEs (or equivalents).” Word family
Domain
Scan code
englishreference.com/q/devolution