decentralize

• decentralise (UK)

From de- +‎ centralize.

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /diːˈsɛntɹəlaɪz/
• (General American, Canada) IPA^(key): /diˈsɛntɹəˌlaɪz/

  • Audio (US):

    (file)

• (General Australian) IPA^(key): /diːˈsentɹəlɑɪz/
• (New Zealand) IPA^(key): /diːˈsentɹəlaɪz/

decentralize (third-person singular simple present decentralizes, present participle decentralizing, simple past and past participle decentralized)

1. (transitive) To cause to change from being concentrated at one point or site to being distributed across several.

   decentralize operations

2. (transitive) To reduce the authority of (a governing body) by distributing that authority among several bodies.

   decentralize authority

   decentralize decision-making

   The government planned to decentralize power to local councils.

3. (intransitive) To become decentralized.
4. (US, law enforcement) To bring (a suspect) to the ground by use of directed force; to tackle.

• recentralize

• decentralization