[{"word":"devolution","phonetic":"/diːvəˈluːʃən/","phonetics":[{"text":"/diːvəˈluːʃən/","audio":""}],"meanings":[{"partOfSpeech":"noun","definitions":[{"definition":"A rolling down.","synonyms":[],"antonyms":[]},{"definition":"A descent, especially one that passes through a series of revolutions, or by succession","synonyms":[],"antonyms":[]},{"definition":"The transference of a right to a successor, or of a power from one body to another.","synonyms":[],"antonyms":[]},{"definition":"Degeneration (as opposed to evolution).","synonyms":[],"antonyms":[],"example":"It is quite disheartening to witness the devolution of our nation's political discourse over the past several years."},{"definition":"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.","synonyms":[],"antonyms":[],"example":"The question of whether England should receive devolution like Scotland and Wales have has dogged British politics for years."}],"synonyms":[],"antonyms":[]}],"license":{"name":"CC BY-SA 3.0","url":"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0"},"sourceUrls":["https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/devolution"]}]