Synonyms

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.

Two key regions are often involved: the amygdala, which helps shape the sense of safety or threat, and the prefrontal cortex, which supports planning, decision making, and emotional control.

From Science Daily • May 16, 2026

Ternus, who starts in the new role in September, says he plans to continue CEO Tim Cook’s deep thoughtfulness, deliberateness and discipline when it comes to financial decision making.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 1, 2026

“Our investigation revealed that Davis was heavily involved in the decision making process surrounding the allocations of these funds from the very beginning”

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 2, 2026

“For younger or beginner investors, having parental visibility or approval can be helpful in guiding decision making and reinforcing good habits,” Tobin said.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 26, 2026

A second reason is the growing impossibility of communal decision making with increasing population size.

From "Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies" by Jared M. Diamond

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