'anti-centralization' is formed from the prefix 'anti-' (from Greek 'anti-' meaning 'against') + 'centralization' (from 'central' + the nominalizing suffix '-ization').

'centralization' ultimately derives from Latin/Old French roots: Latin 'centrum' (from Greek 'kentron') gave rise to Old French/Latin forms meaning 'center' and later English 'central' + '-ization' formed the noun; 'anti-' (Greek) was attached in modern English to indicate opposition, producing 'anti-centralization' as a compound/derivative in contemporary political discourse.

Initially the components meant 'against' and 'the act of making central'; combined in modern usage the compound has come to mean an ideological or practical opposition to concentrating authority in a central body.