decentralized
Decentralized (adjective) means Organised so that control, decision-making or data is spread across many independent points rather than held by one central authority. Example: “Bitcoin runs on a decentralized network with no bank or government in charge.”
How to Use Decentralized
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishRun by lots of separate parts instead of one boss in the middle.
Neutral; heavily used in technology, finance, politics and management.
Fill the Gap
Can you complete this real example?
Bitcoin runs on a _____ network with no bank or government in charge.
Etymology
Formed from de- ('reverse, remove') plus centralize, itself from central.
Synonyms
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Related Words
Rhymes for decentralized
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between decentralized and distributed?
A distributed system simply runs on many machines, which may still answer to one owner — a cloud service is distributed but not decentralized. A decentralized system also spreads authority, so no single party can control or shut it down.
Is it spelt decentralized or decentralised?
Both are correct. -ized is standard in American English and also accepted in British English (Oxford style); -ised is the more usual British newspaper spelling. Pick one and use it consistently.
What does decentralized mean in crypto?
It means the ledger is kept and verified by many independent computers rather than by a bank or company, so no single operator can alter balances or block a transaction on their own.