Ma'anar ƙamus na kalmar "diagonalize" (ko "diagonalise") ita ce canza matrix zuwa matrix diagonal ta hanyar nemo saitin eigenvectors waɗanda ke faɗin matrix. Wannan tsari ya ƙunshi ƙididdige ƙimar eigenvectors da eigenvectors na matrix da amfani da su don gina matrix diagonal. Abubuwan diagonal na matrix diagonal su ne ƙimantan matrix na asali, kuma eigenvectors suna samar da ginshiƙan matrix waɗanda za a iya amfani da su don canza matrix na asali zuwa matrix diagonal. Wannan tsari yana da mahimmanci a fagage da dama na lissafi da kimiyyar lissafi, musamman a cikin nazarin algebra na layi da makanikai.