Desynchronization

Part of speech: noun

Pronunciation: /diːˌsɪnkɹənɪˈzeɪʃən/

Definitions

1. The phenomenon where there is a failure to maintain coordinated timing among multiple systems or processes results in discrepancies in their functions
2. A state where multiple processes or systems no longer operate in sync, causing timing mismatches
3. The condition in which coordinated timing across various mechanisms breaks down, resulting in their functions becoming unaligned

Etymology: Desynchronization is a plain, transparent formation: it is built from "desynchronize" plus the suffix "-ation", which turns a verb into a noun naming the process or state. "Desynchronize" itself combines the prefix "de-", meaning "reversal" or "undoing", with "synchronize", so the whole word literally means the undoing of synchronization. The root "synchronize" comes from Greek "sunkhronos", "together in time", built from "sun-" ("with, together") and "khronos" ("time"). The word therefore describes a state of things that were once in step and have drifted apart. Its meaning follows directly from its parts, which is why it can be used across fields, from biology to electronics, wherever coordinated timing has broken down.

Synonyms: desynchrony, asynchrony