decentralisation
gb/dɪsˈɛntɹəlɪsˈeɪʃən/ us/dɪsˈɛntɹəlɪsˈeɪʃən/
C1
English
Senses
0 senses
Noun
formal
C1
process
1
transfer of local authority
Giving more power or responsibility to local offices or governments instead of one central authority.
Usage pattern:
decentralisation of [power/authority/services] to [local bodies/regions]
Common mistake:
Do not confuse decentralisation with deregulation: decentralisation moves control, while deregulation removes rules. US spelling: decentralization.
Synonyms
devolution (often a formal or legal transfer of governmental power to regional institutions)
|
delegation (usually means giving specific tasks or authority to lower levels, not always changing the whole structure)
|
localisation (emphasises adapting or moving control to local settings)
Antonyms
centralisation (the concentration of authority in a central body)
|
recentralisation (the return of previously local powers to the centre)
Collocations
greater decentralisation
|local decentralisation
|decentralisation reforms
|decentralisation agenda
|decentralisation policy
|decentralisation programme
|push for decentralisation
|drive towards decentralisation
|decentralisation of services
|decentralisation of authority
Themes
government
|politics
|business
|management
|public_policy
Examples
- The reforms promised decentralisation, giving elected councils more control over schools and transport.
- Many employees welcomed the decentralisation of decision-making because local managers could respond faster.
- Decentralisation can improve public services, but only if local authorities have enough money and staff.
Learner examples
- The party supports decentralisation of power.
- Decentralisation gave towns more control.
Noun
technical
C1
process
2
distributed digital control
Organising a digital system so that no single computer, company, or person controls it all.
Usage pattern:
[network/platform/system] decentralisation; decentralisation of [data/control]
Common mistake:
In technology, decentralisation is not the same as privacy or security; it may support them but does not guarantee them.
Synonyms
distributed architecture (a technical design with components spread across systems; it may not imply shared control)
|
peer-to-peer networking (a specific type of decentralised network where participants connect directly)
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federation (a model with multiple semi-independent servers or authorities, not necessarily full decentralisation)
Antonyms
centralisation (the concentration of control or data under one central authority or server)
|
centralised architecture (a technical design based on a central hub)
Collocations
network decentralisation
|platform decentralisation
|data decentralisation
|decentralisation of control
|degree of decentralisation
|true decentralisation
|partial decentralisation
|technical decentralisation
|decentralisation goals
|decentralisation trade-offs
Themes
technology
|computing
|internet
|blockchain
|networks
Examples
- Supporters of blockchain technology often describe decentralisation as its main advantage.
- The app claims to offer decentralisation, but most of its traffic still passes through company servers.
- Decentralisation can make a network more resilient because there is no single point of failure.
Learner examples
- Decentralisation can make a network harder to shut down.
- The platform wants more decentralisation.
Noun
technical
C1
process
3
spread away from centre
Moving activities from the main city or main office to other places.
Usage pattern:
decentralisation of [jobs/industry/offices] from [a city centre/capital] to [regions/suburbs]
Common mistake:
When it refers to places, decentralisation is about location, not necessarily political power.
Synonyms
dispersal (emphasises spreading things out physically)
|
relocation (emphasises moving to a new place, not necessarily away from a centre)
|
deconcentration (a more technical term for reducing concentration in one place)
Antonyms
concentration (the gathering of people or activity in one place)
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centralisation (the bringing of activity into a central place)
|
agglomeration (the clustering of economic activity in one area)
Collocations
spatial decentralisation
|industrial decentralisation
|regional decentralisation
|decentralisation of jobs
|decentralisation of industry
|decentralisation of offices
|planned decentralisation
|office decentralisation
|economic decentralisation
|decentralisation to the regions
Themes
urban_planning
|geography
|economics
|business
Examples
- Rising rents encouraged the decentralisation of offices from the city centre to suburban business parks.
- The government promoted industrial decentralisation to bring jobs to poorer regions.
- Urban decentralisation has changed commuting patterns around the capital.
Learner examples
- Office decentralisation moved many workers out of the centre.
- Decentralisation brought new jobs to small towns.
Grammar
Dictionary form
decentralisation
IPA
GB/dɪsˈɛntɹəlɪsˈeɪʃən/
US/dɪsˈɛntɹəlɪsˈeɪʃən/
Syllables & stress
de - cent - ral - isa - tion (5 syllables)
Stress on 2nd syllable (cent)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: decentralisation
- Plural: decentralisation, decentralisations
Expressions
administrative decentralisation
1/ədmˈɪnɪstɹˌeɪtɪv dɪsˈɛntɹəlɪsˈeɪʃən/
fixed phrase
technical
transfer of administrative duties
Moving government work and services from central offices to local offices.
Examples
- Administrative decentralisation moved licensing services from the ministry to district offices.
- Officials said administrative decentralisation would reduce long trips to the capital.
blockchain decentralisation
1/blˈɑkt͡ʃˌeɪn dɪsˈɛntɹəlɪsˈeɪʃən/
fixed phrase
technical
distributed blockchain control
How far a blockchain is controlled by many independent users instead of one group.
Examples
- Blockchain decentralisation depends on how widely validators and mining power are distributed.
- Critics questioned the project's blockchain decentralisation because a small group controlled most tokens.
decentralisation of decision-making
1/dɪsˈɛntɹəlɪsˈeɪʃən əv dɪsˈɪʒən mˈeɪkɪŋ/
fixed phrase
business
local workplace decision authority
Letting people closer to the work make more decisions.
Examples
- The company introduced decentralisation of decision-making so branch managers could set local prices.
- Decentralisation of decision-making helped teams solve customer problems without waiting for headquarters.
decentralisation of power
1/dɪsˈɛntɹəlɪsˈeɪʃən əv pˈaʊɚ/
fixed phrase
formal
power moved from centre
Moving power away from one central authority and giving it to local or lower-level groups.
Examples
- The decentralisation of power was meant to make government more responsive to local needs.
- Campaigners argued that decentralisation of power would reduce corruption in the capital.
fiscal decentralisation
1/fˈɪskəl dɪsˈɛntɹəlɪsˈeɪʃən/
fixed phrase
technical
local fiscal powers
Giving local governments more control over taxes and public money.
Examples
- Fiscal decentralisation allowed local governments to keep a share of the taxes they collected.
- Without fiscal decentralisation, councils may receive new duties but no money to carry them out.
political decentralisation
1/pəlˈɪtɪkəl dɪsˈɛntɹəlɪsˈeɪʃən/
fixed phrase
formal
local political power transfer
Giving regions or local governments more political power.
Examples
- The constitution created political decentralisation by giving provinces elected assemblies.
- Opposition leaders called for political decentralisation after years of rule from the capital.
urban decentralisation
1/ˈɚbən dɪsˈɛntɹəlɪsˈeɪʃən/
fixed phrase
technical
city activity spreads outward
When homes, jobs, and services move away from the centre of a city to outer areas.
Examples
- Urban decentralisation has pushed housing and retail development beyond the old city centre.
- Better highways accelerated urban decentralisation in the region.