Definition

1. Verb:
   • To separate, disconnect, or detach things that were previously linked or coupled. This involves reducing or eliminating the connection, interaction, or dependence between two or more entities.
   • To eliminate the transfer of shock waves or energy from one part to another, particularly in technical contexts like explosives or circuits.

Usage and Examples

• Verb:
  • The government aims to decouple economic growth from environmental damage. (To separate the connection between growth and harm.)
  • Engineers needed to decouple the power supply from the main circuit before repairs. (To disconnect or isolate one part from another.)
  • The policy seeks to decouple foreign aid from political conditions. (To treat as separate and not dependent.)

Advanced Usage

• Technical/Engineering: To isolate components to prevent interference.
  • The design decouples the audio and video processing to prevent feedback.
• Economic/Political: To reduce dependency or linked outcomes.
  • The country is trying to decouple its supply chains from a single foreign market.

Variants and Related Words

• Decoupling (n): The act or process of separating previously connected systems.
  • The decoupling of the two networks improved security.
• Decoupled (adj): Describing a state of being separated or disconnected.
  • The decoupled modules functioned independently.

Synonyms

• Separate
• Disconnect
• Detach
• Dissociate
• Uncouple

Related Phrases

• Decouple from: To separate from a specific thing.
  • It is difficult to decouple public opinion from media influence.

Verb

1. reduce or eliminate the coupling of (one circuit or part to another)
2. eliminate airborne shock waves from (an explosive)
3. regard as unconnected
   • you must dissociate these two events!
   • decouple our foreign policy from ideology
4. disconnect or separate
   • uncouple the hounds