decouple
dee-KUP-uhl
/diːˈkʌp.əl/
To separate, disassociate, or detach two linked concepts, particularly economic growth from environmental degradation.
Implies breaking a historically strong statistical correlation so that one variable rises while the other declines or remains stable.
The story behind the word. Entered English in the early 20th century to describe uncoupling railway cars. In the late 20th century, resource economists adopted the word to describe breaking the historical coupling between economic growth and environmental depletion.
Word relationships
- disassociate: Disassociate is broader and applies to ideas or mental connections; decouple is analytical and systemic.
- disconnect: Disconnect implies severing a literal link, whereas decouple implies breaking a proportional statistical trend.
- couple: To join two elements so that changes in one directly drive changes in the other.
- link: To establish a direct relationship or dependency between two variables.
Commonly confused with
- isolate: Isolate means placing something completely apart; decouple means letting two systems operate independently.
Word family
- decoupling (noun): The act or process of severing the link between resource use and economic growth.
- decoupled (adjective): Operating independently without mutual dependency.
Collocations
- decouple growth from
- decouple emissions
- decouple economic activity
Example sentences
- "Policy makers aim to decouple gross domestic product expansion from greenhouse gas emissions." Macroeconomics
- "Technological innovation made it possible to decouple energy consumption from heavy industrial manufacturing." Resource Management
Memory hook
DE-COUPLE: Remove the couple that was holding GDP and pollution together. Unlink growth from destruction.
When not to use
Avoid using for physical unlatching of simple mechanical objects when 'unhook' or 'detach' is more natural.
Fun facts
- Several countries, including the UK and Germany, successfully decoupled GDP growth from territorial carbon emissions over the last two decades.
Related words
Explore more words
detach, disconnect, decarbonize, decelerate, decarbonization, disengagement
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