What does decimalization mean?
Decimalization is the process of converting a monetary, measurement, or numerical system into one based on decimal units, especially units of ten. Its best-known use is in the history of money: decimalization replaced older systems such as pounds, shillings, and pence with simpler units such as pounds and pence, or dollars and cents. In mathematics, the term can more narrowly describe expressing a fraction or other value in decimal notation. The word is chiefly associated with technical, economic, and historical writing rather than everyday conversation, although its central idea is broadly understandable: making a system orderly, countable, and based on ten. Decimalization is also used figuratively in discussions of organizations, institutions, and systems that are being reorganized around simpler or more standardized units. Its historical importance lies in how it simplified calculation, pricing, education, and commercial exchange.
nounDecimalization is the process of converting a system, measurement, or numerical expression to decimal form, especially the introduction or reorganization of a currency based on units of ten. In mathematics, it can refer to expressing a fraction or other value in decimal notation.
- The conversion of a monetary, measurement, or other system to decimal units based on tens.
- The expression of a fraction or other numerical value in decimal notation.
"The decimalization of the currency made prices easier to understand and compare."
"The government proposed a timetable for the decimalization of the national currency."
"Decimalization of the fraction produced an approximate value of 0.375."
The plural is uncommon because decimalization is usually treated as an uncountable process, but it can be used when referring to multiple separate conversions.
"The decimalizations of national currencies transformed international trade."
Before decimalization, one British pound contained 240 pence; decimalization made it 100.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does decimalization come from?
Decimalization was formed in English from the adjective decimal and the suffix -ization, meaning the process of making or converting something. Decimal comes from Latin decimalis, meaning “tenth,” which was derived from decimus, “tenth,” ultimately from decem, “ten.” The same numerical root appears in words such as decimal, decimate, decimation, and decillion.
Related word forms
How decimalization is actually used
The noun is relatively uncommon outside technical, economic, and historical discussions. The spelling is usually decimalization in American English and decimalisation in British English.
Easily confused with decimalization
Decimalisation is the British spelling of decimalization; both forms have the same meaning.
Decimalization means conversion to a decimal system, whereas decimation traditionally means the act of destroying or reducing every tenth member of a group.