decision-making

American

[dih-sizh-uhn-mey-king] / dɪˈsɪʒ ənˌmeɪ kɪŋ /

Or decision making or decisionmaking

noun

the act or process of making choices or decisions with a group of people, especially in business or politics (often used attributively).

decision-making skills.

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

decision-maker

noun

Etymology

Origin of decision-making

First recorded in 1915–20

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

With no Sullivan family involvement in the decision-making process at West Ham, eyes will focus on Kretinsky and Vanessa Gold.

From BBC • Jun. 9, 2026

IBM will design industry-specific AI agents for Google’s Gemini Enterprise, helping organizations “automate workflows, improve decision-making and accelerate autonomous operations,” the companies said in a statement.

From Barron's • Jun. 4, 2026

Owning an index fund does not eliminate active decision-making.

From MarketWatch • Jun. 2, 2026

Some experts who have responded to major fires said it’s important to note that the nature of such fires can impede decision-making, particularly at night and without aerial surveillance.

From Los Angeles Times • May 29, 2026

The poetic heart is not to be trusted with long-term decision-making.

From "The Sun Is Also a Star" by Nicola Yoon

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023