decentralise
gb/dɪsˈɛntɹəlɪs/ us/dɪsˈɛntɹəlɪs/
C1
English
Senses
0 senses
Verb
formal
C1
action
1
transfer power to local bodies
to give power from the centre to local groups
Usage pattern:
decentralise [power/control/decision-making/services]
Common mistake:
Often confused with centralise (to bring control back to the centre). In American English, decentralize is the usual spelling.
Synonyms
devolve (Often used for giving powers to regional governments or assemblies.)
|
delegate (Focuses on giving a task or authority to a person or group, not necessarily changing the whole structure.)
Antonyms
centralise (Brings control and decision-making back to a central authority.)
Collocations
decentralise power
|decentralise control
|decentralise authority
|decentralise decision-making
|decentralise government
|decentralise public services
|decentralise responsibilities
|decentralise administration
|decentralise spending
|plans to decentralise
Themes
politics
|government
|management
Examples
- The reforms were designed to decentralise power to elected regional councils.
- The ministry agreed to decentralise decision-making so local offices could respond faster.
- Several countries have tried to decentralise education policy to improve accountability.
Learner examples
- The government wants to decentralise power.
- They decentralised control to local offices.
Verb
business
C1
process
2
reorganise a company into units
to organise a company so teams work more independently
Usage pattern:
decentralise [a company/structure/operations]
Common mistake:
Learners may use it for any kind of ‘spreading out’; it specifically implies less central control, not just more locations.
Synonyms
restructure (Broader; can include many organisational changes, not necessarily reducing central control.)
|
distribute (Emphasises spreading work or resources, but may not imply a change in authority.)
Antonyms
centralise (Creates a single centre for management and decision-making.)
Collocations
decentralise operations
|decentralise management
|decentralise the structure
|decentralise the organisation
|decentralise the workforce
|decentralise teams
|highly decentralised company
|move to decentralise
|efforts to decentralise
|decentralise functions
Themes
business
|work
|management
Examples
- The firm decided to decentralise its management and give country directors more autonomy.
- After the merger, the new CEO chose to decentralise operations to speed up product decisions.
- They decentralised the customer-support function, putting teams closer to key markets.
Learner examples
- The company will decentralise its management.
- They decentralised the teams.
Verb
technical
C1
action
3
make a system non-central
to run a system without one central controller
Usage pattern:
decentralise [a network/system/platform/data]
Common mistake:
Not the same as ‘digitalise’; it refers to control and architecture, not converting to digital form.
Synonyms
distribute (Highlights spreading components across many machines or locations; may not imply removing central authority.)
Antonyms
centralise (Runs the system through one main server, controller, or authority.)
Collocations
decentralise a network
|decentralise a platform
|decentralise the internet
|decentralise data storage
|decentralise governance
|decentralise control
|fully decentralised
|partially decentralised
|attempt to decentralise
|decentralise infrastructure
Themes
technology
|computing
|finance
Examples
- The project aims to decentralise the network so no single company controls access.
- They decentralised data storage to reduce the risk of one point of failure.
- The new protocol decentralises governance by letting users vote on upgrades.
Learner examples
- They want to decentralise the network.
- The system was decentralised.
Verb
formal
C1
process
4
move activity away from a centre
to move work and services to many places
Usage pattern:
decentralise [industry/services/jobs]
Common mistake:
Do not use when the idea is only ‘move to the suburbs’; decentralise implies a shift away from one main centre toward several centres.
Synonyms
disperse (Focuses on spreading out physically; may not imply reduced central control.)
|
relocate (Refers to moving location; does not necessarily imply creating multiple centres.)
Antonyms
concentrate (Brings activity together in one main place or hub.)
Collocations
decentralise industry
|decentralise services
|decentralise jobs
|decentralise production
|decentralise development
|policy to decentralise
|decentralise economic activity
|decentralise the economy
|decentralise resources
|efforts to decentralise
Themes
cities
|business
|infrastructure
Examples
- The policy was meant to decentralise industry and reduce pressure on the capital.
- They plan to decentralise services by creating regional hubs for healthcare and transport.
- The company decentralised production, opening smaller plants closer to customers.
Learner examples
- The plan will decentralise industry.
- They decentralised services into regional hubs.
Grammar
Dictionary form
decentralise
IPA
GB/dɪsˈɛntɹəlɪs/
US/dɪsˈɛntɹəlɪs/
Syllables & stress
de - cent - ral - ise (4 syllables)
Stress on 2nd syllable (cent)
Word forms
Verb
- Base: decentralise
- 3rd Person Singular: decentralises
- Present Participle: decentralising
- Past: decentralised
Word family
Forms
decentralises
verb
decentralising
verb
decentralised
verb
Core family
decentralisation
noun C1
Negative and opposite forms
Expressions
decentralise a network
1/dɪsˈɛntɹəlɪs ə nˈɛtwˌɚk/
fixed phrase
technical
remove a network’s single centre
to run a network without one main server
Examples
- Engineers proposed changes to decentralise the network and improve resilience.
- The update decentralised the network by allowing more independent validators to participate.
decentralise decision-making
1/dɪsˈɛntɹəlɪs dɪsˈɪʒən mˈeɪkɪŋ/
fixed phrase
business
let teams make decisions
to allow more people to make decisions
Examples
- The company tried to decentralise decision-making by giving product teams their own budgets.
- In fast-growing firms, leaders often decentralise decision-making to avoid bottlenecks.
decentralise power
1/dɪsˈɛntɹəlɪs pˈaʊɚ/
fixed phrase
formal
shift political power outward
to give political power to local areas
Examples
- The constitution was amended to decentralise power to the provinces.
- Activists called on the state to decentralise power and increase local accountability.