devolution

  1. Noun.  A rolling down.
  2. Noun.  A descent, especially one that passes through a series of revolutions, or by succession.
  3. Noun.  The transference of a right to a successor, or of a power from one body to another.
  4. Noun.  (pejorative) Degeneration (as opposed to evolution).
  5. Noun.  (British) The transfer of some powers, and the delegation of some functions, from a central sovereign government to local government; eg. from Westminster to Scottish parliament and Welsh assembly.

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This entry was last updated on RefTopia from its source on 3/20/2012.