Devolution is when a national government gives some of its power down to a group closer to the people — a region, a nation inside the state, a city, a local council. The example English news talks about most is the United Kingdom: London kept some powers and handed others to Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland, so those places could make more of their own laws.

Devolution權力下放，is when a national government gives some of its power down是指中央政府把一部分權力下放，to a group closer to the people給比較接近人民的單位——a region, a nation inside the state, a city, a local council像是某個地區、國家內部的一個民族地區、一座城市、或地方議會。The example English news talks about most is the United Kingdom英文新聞最常舉的例子是英國：London kept some powers and handed others to Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland倫敦保留了一部分權力，把其他的交給了蘇格蘭、威爾斯、和北愛爾蘭，so those places could make more of their own laws讓這些地方可以自己訂更多法律。

The idea is power rolling down, not a country breaking away. Independence would mean becoming a separate country; devolution means staying inside the same country, with more local say.

The idea is power rolling down這個概念是權力往下滾動，not a country breaking away而不是國家分裂出去。Independence would mean becoming a separate country獨立的意思是變成一個獨立的國家；devolution means staying inside the same country, with more local say而 devolution 是指仍然留在同一個國家裡，只是地方有更多發言權。

It is a politics-and-news word, quite formal.

It is a politics-and-news word這是政治和新聞用語，quite formal相當正式。

Though actually you may also hear a looser use, where people say devolution to mean things going backwards, as if it were the opposite of evolution. That casual use is around, but it is not the main meaning in government, and it is not what this word is doing in careful English. For serious use, think “power given down,” not “going downhill.”

Though actually you may also hear a looser use不過其實你也可能聽到比較鬆散的用法，where people say devolution to mean things going backwards有人會用 devolution 來指事情在退步，as if it were the opposite of evolution好像它是 evolution（演化）的反義詞一樣。That casual use is around這種隨口的用法確實存在，but it is not the main meaning in government但這不是政治領域裡的主要意思，and it is not what this word is doing in careful English在講究的英文裡也不是這個字該做的事。For serious use認真使用的時候，think “power given down,” not “going downhill.”要想成「權力被下放」，而不是「每況愈下」。