centralize

verb

cen·​tral·​ize ˈsen-trə-ˌlīz How to pronounce centralize (audio)
centralized; centralizing
Synonyms of centralizenext

intransitive verb

: to form a center : cluster around a center

transitive verb

1
: to bring to a center : consolidate
centralize all the data in one file
2
: to concentrate by placing power and authority in a center or central organization
centralized several functions in a single agency
centralization
ˌsen-trə-lə-ˈzā-shən How to pronounce centralize (audio)
noun
centralizer
ˈsen-trə-ˌlī-zər How to pronounce centralize (audio)
noun

Synonyms of centralize

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Examples of centralize in a Sentence

All shipping operations have been centralized at the Miami office. The controversial reforms could be used to further centralize power in the hands of one party.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
But they’re endowed with a fundamentally different intelligence, one shaped by a separate evolutionary path and defined by a nervous system that’s distributed throughout their bodies rather than centralized like that of the brains of most animals. — Cody Cottier, Scientific American, 29 July 2026 Only 14% of enterprise leaders have centralized content management in place. — Benjamin Faes, Forbes.com, 29 July 2026 By law, the armed forces of Ukraine, like every major military in the world, centralizes weapons orders via the defense ministry. — Simon Shuster, The Atlantic, 24 July 2026 Max and Ben ask Eli how soon your morning routine will change, which platforms are most exposed to AI disruption, and whether centralizing everyone’s attention was actually a mistake. — Max Tani, semafor.com, 22 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for centralize

Word History

First Known Use

1795, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of centralize was in 1795

Rhymes for centralize

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Browse Nearby Words

centralization
centralize
centralizer
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Cite this Entry

“Centralize.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/centralize. Accessed 3 Aug. 2026.

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Kids Definition

centralize

verb
cen·​tral·​ize ˈsen-trə-ˌlīz How to pronounce centralize (audio)
centralized; centralizing
: to bring to a central point or under a single control
centralization
ˌsen-trə-lə-ˈzā-shən How to pronounce centralize (audio)
noun

More from Merriam-Webster on centralize

Nglish: Translation of centralize for Spanish Speakers

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