Definition

1. Verb:
   • To relax or remove government or official controls: "Decontrol" means to end or reduce regulations, restrictions, or administrative controls, especially those imposed by a government on an industry, commodity, or economic activity.

Examples of Usage

• Verb:
  • The government decided to decontrol the price of fuel. (The government decided to remove price controls on fuel.)
  • Many economists argue for decontrolling the telecommunications sector to encourage competition. (Many economists argue for removing controls from the telecommunications sector to encourage competition.)
  • The new policy will decontrol the sale of certain agricultural products. (The new policy will deregulate the sale of certain agricultural products.)

Advanced Usage

• "to be decontrolled": (Passive voice) to have had controls removed.
  • The industry was decontrolled in the 1990s, leading to rapid growth. (The industry had its controls removed in the 1990s, leading to rapid growth.)

Variants and Related Words

• Deregulate (verb): to remove regulations from. This is a close synonym, often used in similar economic contexts.
  • The act aimed to deregulate the airline industry.
• Liberalize (verb): to make less strict, often used in the context of trade or markets.
  • The country moved to liberalize its trade policies.

Synonyms

• Deregulate: To remove regulations or controls.
• Free: To release from restrictions.
• Liberate: To set free from control (often used more broadly).

Antonyms

• Control (verb): To exercise authoritative or dominating influence over.
• Regulate: To govern or direct according to rule.
• Restrict: To confine within bounds.

Related Phrases

• Lift controls: A phrase meaning to remove restrictions, similar to "decontrol."
  • The administration plans to lift controls on capital flows.

Verb

1. relax or remove controls of
   • decontrol marijuana