decimalized

Decimalized refers to the adoption or use of a decimal-based numerical system. In general, something is decimalized when its units, quantities, or representations are expressed using base-10 divisions, with fractions represented as decimal fractions rather than non-decimal subunits. The term is most commonly encountered in discussions of currency, but it is also used in relation to measurements, pricing, and data that employ decimal notation.

In currency, decimalization is the transition from a system of non-decimal subunits to a decimal-based one, typically 100 subunits per major unit. Notable examples include the United States, which established a decimal dollar and cent in 1792; the United Kingdom, which completed decimalization on Decimal Day, 15 February 1971 (replacing pounds, shillings, and pence with pounds and pence); Canada, which moved to a dollar-and-cent system in 1858; Australia (1966) and New Zealand (1967) also decimalized their currencies; Ireland and several other countries followed in the late 20th century.

In other contexts, decimalization describes making a system decimal-based: the metric system uses base-10 units such as meters, grams, and liters; prices, measurements, and data are often expressed with decimal fractions to simplify arithmetic and rounding. Decimalization also appears in computing and accounting, where numbers are routinely represented with a decimal point to denote fractional values.