Federalize: meaning, definitions and examples

Use when referring to the process of bringing smaller regions or states under a federal system where they maintain some independence but are united under a central authority.

• The attempt to federalize the school system aimed to balance local autonomy with national standards.
• After the revolution, the government decided to federalize power to ensure more regional representation.

Best used when talking about concentrating control or power under a single, central authority, often in scenarios like administrative decisions, business operations, or political power. It can have a negative connotation if it implies reducing local autonomy.

• The company decided to centralize its operations to improve efficiency.
• Critics argued that the government's plan to centralize all educational institutions would reduce the quality of local schools.

This word is suitable for contexts where the state takes control or ownership of private enterprises to make them part of the national government. Often used in economic or political discussions.

• The government chose to nationalize the oil industry to protect national resources.
• After the financial crisis, several banks were nationalized to prevent economic collapse.

Use this when talking about bringing together different groups, regions, or ideas into a single unit or entity, particularly in social, political, or organizational contexts.

• The new policy aims to unify the diverse communities within the city.
• The president called for efforts to unify the nation after years of division.

Use this term when talking about distributing power from a central government to regional governments or states within a nation. It's often used in political discussions about governance structure.

• The goal is to federalize the healthcare system, giving more authority to individual states.
• The effort to federalize the education system aimed to allow states to develop their own curricula.

This term is appropriate when discussing the consolidation of control and decision-making authority into a single central organization or government. It often implies reducing powers of regional entities.

• The company decided to centralize its operations to streamline decision making.
• The government moved to centralize law enforcement to ensure uniform policies across the country.

This word is used when a government takes control of private assets or industries and converts them into state-owned enterprises. It often has negative connotations related to loss of private ownership.

• The government plans to nationalize the telecommunications industry to reduce costs for consumers.
• After the financial crisis, there were calls to nationalize certain banks to stabilize the economy.

Use this term when talking about moving responsibilities, assets, or people from one place or entity to another. It's a more general term and can apply in various contexts like business, education, or government.

• The company will transfer its headquarters to a new city next year.
• She decided to transfer to another department for better career opportunities.