centralization

/ˌsɛntrəlɪˈzeɪʃən/

Other forms: centralizations

Centralization means bringing things to one central place or under unified control. The centralization of a school district might mean the superintendent makes important decisions for all the schools, rather than leaving those choices to individual principals.

Centralization can refer to the consolidation of operations, like the centralization of a company's distribution, so that all the products they make are shipped out from one central warehouse. However, it often refers to the consolidation of power or control. When centralization occurs in a government, it means a small group increasingly controls everything; the disadvantage to extreme centralization is that there aren't enough checks and balances to that power.

Definitions of centralization

1. noun

   gathering to a center
   synonyms: centralisation

   type of:

   gather, gathering

   the act of gathering something
2. noun

   the act of consolidating power under a central control
   synonyms: centralisation

   antonyms:

   decentralization

   the spread of power away from a core to local branches or governments

   type of:

   consolidation, integration

   the act of combining into an integral whole