decentralize
decentralize — verb
- decentralizepresent simple I / you / we / they
- decentralizeshe / she / it
- decentralizedpast simple
- decentralizing-ing form
1. to give local offices or regional branches the authority to make important decis
to give local offices or regional branches the authority to make important decisions, rather than having everything decided and controlled by a single central headquarters
The retail group decided to decentralize its operations so regional teams could respond faster to local needs.
transitive: decentralize + noun phrase (operations/management)
After years of tight control, the chain began to decentralize and gave stores more freedom.
Mayumi thinks the district should decentralize budgeting so principals decide how to spend the money.
The admissions process was decentralized so that each faculty could set its own entry requirements.
Local hospitals want to decentralize their purchasing to avoid long delays from central approval.
- delegate
focuses on assigning specific tasks while keeping overall control; a narrower act than restructuring an entire organization
- distribute
more general term that can apply to physical objects as well as authority; less specific to organizational structure
- devolve
mainly used in political contexts for transferring responsibilities to lower levels of government
- centralize
to bring power or decision-making back to a single central point
文法句型
decentralize + noun phrase (operations/management)
decentralize (no object)
用法筆記
The intransitive use ('The company decided to decentralize') is very common in business contexts, especially when talking about organizational structure. The transitive form requires a noun phrase such as 'operations,' 'management,' or 'decision-making' as the object.
常見錯誤
2. to transfer political decision-making power from a national government to local
to transfer political decision-making power from a national government to local or regional authorities
The national government plans to decentralize education funding so local councils decide how to use it.
transitive: decentralize + noun phrase (funding/authority)
After the new law passed, many central powers were decentralized to county governments.
Omar argued the country should decentralize its tax system so provinces keep a share of the money.
When the health system was decentralized, local hospitals gained the right to hire their own staff.
Yael believes the central government needs to decentralize decision-making to village councils across the country.
- centralize
to concentrate power back at the national level
文法句型
decentralize + noun phrase (power/authority/funding)
用法筆記
The subject is almost always a national government or similar central authority. The powers being transferred are usually specified — e.g. 'funding,' 'tax collection,' 'health services.' This sense is formal and most common in political science, public policy, and news reporting.
3. to move people, businesses, or activities away from one main location and spread
to move people, businesses, or activities away from one main location and spread them across several different areas
The government decided to decentralize the capital's population by building new towns in the countryside.
transitive: decentralize + noun phrase (population/industry)
Plans to decentralize heavy industry from the city center were announced by the mayor last month.
Gita suggested the company decentralize warehouses across three regions rather than keep everything in one place.
The country aims to decentralize its main port operations to smaller harbours along the coast.
- concentrate
to bring things together in one place
- centralize
to bring operations back to a single central location
文法句型
decentralize + noun phrase (population/industry/facilities)
用法筆記
This sense emphasizes geographical relocation rather than the transfer of decision-making authority. It most often appears in discussions of urban planning, industrial policy, and infrastructure. Distinguished from sense 1 and 2 by its focus on physical movement of people or facilities rather than organizational power structures.