centralize

C3E1N1T1R1A1L1I1Z10E1
/ˈsɛntɹəlaɪz/

verb

To move things physically towards the centre; to consolidate or concentrate

Similar
centraliseconcentrate
Opposite
decentralize
OriginEnglish central ← Latin centrālis ← Proto-Indo-European *h₂élisder.? →
UncommonScrabble 21
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Meanings

verbcentralize (third-person singular simple present centralizes, present participle centralizing, simple past and past participle centralized)

present singular third person centralizes · participle present centralizing · participle past centralized · past centralized · alternative centralise

  1. BritishEnglishOxfordUSTo move things physically towards the centre; to consolidate or concentrate
  2. BritishEnglishOxfordUSTo move power to a single, central authority
  3. BritishEnglishOxfordUSTo make something focal, the most important

    She examines authors Mary Daly and Andrea Dworkin and criticizes the analysis that centralizes all our oppression in sexism.

    1985 February 2, Malkah Barrsey Feldman, “Blacks & Jews: Vulnerability & Values”, in Gay Community News, volume 12, number 28, page 14

Synonyms & antonyms

verbmake central

Similar
centraliseconcentrate
Opposite
decentralize
Broader
changealtermodify
Also see
concentrate

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Origin

  1. Proto-Indo-European*ḱen-?
  2. Proto-Indo-European*ḱéntrom
  3. Proto-Hellenic*kéntron
  4. Ancient Greekκέντρον (kéntron)
  5. Latincentrum
  6. Proto-Indo-European*h₂el-
  7. Proto-Indo-European*h₂élisder.?
  8. Latincentrālis
  9. Englishcentral
  10. Englishcentralize

From central + -ize.

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Catalan centralitzar, centralitzar
  • centralitzarto move things physically towards the centre; to consolidate or concentrate
  • centralitzarto move power to a single, central authority
Czech centralizovat
  • centralizovatto move power to a single, central authority
Dutch centraliseren, centraliseren
  • centraliserento move things physically towards the centre; to consolidate or concentrate
  • centraliserento move power to a single, central authority
Esperanto centralizi, centralizi
  • centralizito move things physically towards the centre; to consolidate or concentrate
  • centralizito move power to a single, central authority
French centraliser
  • centraliserto move power to a single, central authority
German zentralisieren
  • zentralisierento move things physically towards the centre; to consolidate or concentrate
Hungarian centralizál, központosít
  • centralizálto move things physically towards the centre; to consolidate or concentrate
  • központosítto move things physically towards the centre; to consolidate or concentrate
Russian централизова́ть
  • централизова́ть (centralizovátʹ)to move things physically towards the centre; to consolidate or concentrate
Spanish centralizar, centralizar
  • centralizarto move things physically towards the centre; to consolidate or concentrate
  • centralizarto move power to a single, central authority
Swedish centralisera
  • centraliserato move power to a single, central authority
Ukrainian централізува́ти
  • централізува́ти (centralizuváty)to move things physically towards the centre; to consolidate or concentrate
Cite this entry
APA

centralize. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/centralize

MLA

“centralize.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/centralize. Accessed November 2, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “centralize,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/centralize.

Source: centralize on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.