de·cen·tral·i·za·tion
(ˌ)dē-ˌsen-trə-lə-ˈzā-shən 
1
: the dispersion or distribution of functions and powers
a decentralization of powers
specifically, government
: the delegation of power from a central authority to regional and local authorities
the decentralization of the state's public school system
government decentralization
2
sociology
: the redistribution of population and industry from urban centers to outlying areas
de·cen·tral·ize
(¦)dē-ˈsen-trə-ˌlīz
: to deprive of centralization: such as
a
: to disperse or distribute the functions or powers of (as a government)
decentralize the administration of flood relief
b
: to cause to withdraw from the center or place of concentration
decentralize downtown business areas—
J. C. Ingraham
J. C. IngrahamExamples of decentralization in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 28 May 2026
Jansa in a speech listed the economy, fight against corruption and red tape, and decentralization as key goals of the future government.
—Los Angeles Times, 22 May 2026
Tehranian, for his part, framed the Foundation news as further evidence of the importance of the NFT–crypto community’s underlying mission of decentralization.
—Harrison Jacobs, ARTnews.com, 16 Apr. 2026
The attacks bring into sharp relief how some of the key selling points of crypto — decentralization from banks, the ease of transferring large sums, irreversible transactions — also double as its vulnerabilities.
—Megan Cassidy, San Francisco Chronicle, 3 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for decentralization
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Noun
Its doctrine, known as Guerra de Todo el Pueblo — War of All the People — is built not around defeating the United States in open battle but around survival, decentralization and making intervention costly.
—Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 28 May 2026
Jansa in a speech listed the economy, fight against corruption and red tape, and decentralization as key goals of the future government.
—Los Angeles Times, 22 May 2026
Tehranian, for his part, framed the Foundation news as further evidence of the importance of the NFT–crypto community’s underlying mission of decentralization.
—Harrison Jacobs, ARTnews.com, 16 Apr. 2026
The attacks bring into sharp relief how some of the key selling points of crypto — decentralization from banks, the ease of transferring large sums, irreversible transactions — also double as its vulnerabilities.
—Megan Cassidy, San Francisco Chronicle, 3 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for decentralization
Cite this Entry
“Decentralization.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/decentralization. Accessed 10 Jun. 2026.
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