devolution: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Formal, Academic, Political
Quick answer
What does “devolution” mean?
The transfer or delegation of power from a central government to a regional or local authority.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The transfer or delegation of power from a central government to a regional or local authority.
The process of declining from a higher to a lower level of effective power, vitality, or quality; a degeneration or descent.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
In British English, it is a key constitutional term referring to the delegation of powers to Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. In American English, it is used more generally for any delegation of power from federal to state/local levels, and more frequently in the 'decline' sense.
Connotations
UK: Strongly associated with modern British politics and constitutional reform. US: More neutral or technical; the 'degeneration' connotation is more readily accessible.
Frequency
Much more frequent in UK English due to its specific political context.
Grammar
How to Use “devolution” in a Sentence
devolution of [NP] (to [NP])devolution to [NP][NP] under devolutionVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “devolution” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The government plans to devolve more tax-raising powers.
- Authority was devolved to the regional assemblies.
American English
- The company devolved budgeting to department heads.
- The treaty devolved management of the territory to the local council.
adverb
British English
- Power was transferred devolutionarily.
- The system operates devolutionarily.
American English
- The funds were distributed devolutionarily.
- The policy was implemented devolutionarily.
adjective
British English
- The devolutionary process has been gradual.
- A devolutionary settlement was reached.
American English
- The court examined the devolutionary aspects of the law.
- They discussed devolutionary trends in federal systems.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. Might refer to delegating decision-making to subsidiary companies.
Academic
Common in political science, law, and sociology texts discussing governance.
Everyday
Uncommon in casual conversation. Appears in news/political discussion.
Technical
Specific term in constitutional law and political theory.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “devolution”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “devolution”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “devolution”
- Misspelling as 'develution' or 'devoultion'.
- Using it as a synonym for 'evolution'.
- Confusing it with 'devaluation'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. Devolution involves delegating specific powers while the central government retains ultimate sovereignty. Independence is the complete separation and self-governance of a state.
Yes. Outside of politics, it can mean a decline or degeneration, e.g., 'the devolution of the debate into petty insults'.
The verb is 'to devolve'. For example, 'Power was devolved to the regional council'.
The term and its modern political application, especially in the UK, gained prominence in the late 20th century, though the concept of decentralizing power is ancient.
The transfer or delegation of power from a central government to a regional or local authority.
Devolution is usually formal, academic, political in register.
Devolution: in British English it is pronounced /ˌdiːvəˈluːʃ(ə)n/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌdɛvəˈluʃ(ə)n/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “a devolution of responsibility”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of DE-VOLUTION: moving power DOWN (DE-) from a central point, like evolution in reverse.
Conceptual Metaphor
POWER IS A SUBSTANCE THAT CAN FLOW DOWNWARD.
Practice
Quiz
In a British political context, 'devolution' most specifically refers to: