/sen'treuh leuh zay"sheuhn/ , n.
1. the act or fact of centralizing; fact of being centralized.
2. the concentration of administrative power in a central government, authority, etc.
3. Chiefly Sociol.
a. a process whereby social groups and institutions become increasingly dependent on a central group or institution.
b. concentration of control or power in a few individuals.
[ 1795-1805; CENTRALIZE + -ATION ]