decentralize

American  

[dee-sen-truh-lahyz] / diˈsɛn trəˌlaɪz /

especially British, decentralise

verb (used with object)

decentralized, decentralizing

1. to distribute the administrative powers or functions of (a central authority) over a less concentrated area.

   to decentralize the national government.

2. to disperse (something) from an area of concentration.

   to decentralize the nation's industry.

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verb (used without object)

decentralized, decentralizing

1. to undergo decentralization.

   The city government is looking for ways to decentralize.

decentralize British  

/ diːˈsɛntrəˌlaɪz /

verb

1. to reorganize (a government, industry, etc) into smaller more autonomous units

2. to disperse (a concentration, as of industry or population)

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Other Word Forms

• decentralist noun
• decentralization noun

Etymology

Origin of decentralize

First recorded in 1850–55; de- + centralize

Example Sentences

“I’m a big believer in decentralized and distributed power. And I think it’s harder to hack 50 election systems than it is to hack one,” he said.

From Los Angeles Times

It acts as a decentralized digital ledger where data is shared and maintained across many computers rather than controlled by a single organization.

From Science Daily

Schmid didn’t address the issue of successors to current Chair Jerome Powell or the DOJ’s subpoenas, but noted that part of what has made the U.S. so successful economically has been its decentralized federal system.

From The Wall Street Journal

A thriving university is a rich, decentralized community of people holding diverse views about values, methods and the nature of knowledge.

From The Wall Street Journal

This is also a way to gain exposure to blockchain technology that enables secure, decentralized transactions and underpins the digital-asset ecosystem.

From MarketWatch

Related Words

• disperse
• distribute
• scatter