'decenter' originates from Latin prefix 'de-' (meaning 'away from') combined with 'center', ultimately from Latin 'centrum' (from Greek 'kentron'), where 'centrum'/'kentron' meant 'sharp point' or 'center'.

'decenter' developed through formations such as Old French/Middle English 'decentre'/'decentre' (with 'centre' from Old French 'centre'), and later became the modern English 'decenter' (also spelled 'decentre' in some varieties).

Initially it meant 'to move away from the physical center', but over time it also came to mean 'to reduce or remove central importance or centrality' (figurative use).