decision
Americannoun
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the act or process of deciding; deciding; determination, as of a question or doubt, by making a judgment.
They must make a decision between these two contestants.
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the act of or need for making up one's mind.
This is a difficult decision.
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something that is decided; decided; resolution.
She made a poor decision when she dropped out of school.
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a judgment, as one formally pronounced by a court.
It is the decision of this court that the appeal is granted.
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the quality of being decided; firmness.
He spoke with decision and calm authority.
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the final score in any sport or contest.
The decision was 5 to 4 in favor of the home team.
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Boxing. the awarding of a victory in a match not decided by a knockout or technical knockout, usually through a vote of the referee and judges.
verb (used with object)
noun
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a judgment, conclusion, or resolution reached or given; verdict
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the act of making up one's mind
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firmness of purpose or character; determination
Other Word Forms
- decisional adjective
- nondecision noun
- predecision noun
- redecision noun
- subdecision noun
Etymology
Origin of decision
First recorded in 1425–75; late Middle English decisioun, from Middle French, from Latin dēcīsiōn-, stem of dēcīsiō “a cutting off,” equivalent to dēcīs(us) (past participle of dēcīdere “to cut off”; decide ) + -iō -ion
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.
He said the FDA’s decision to send out a warning letter instead of issuing a recall is “completely normal,” and the agency is very conservative when it comes to food safety.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 2, 2026
"It just brings a lot of happiness that someone's made this decision and we can show her."
From BBC • Apr. 2, 2026
Although it was a state trial court decision, Brown’s case had been intensely covered by the national press, and it was no doubt the most consequential trial in U.S. history until that time.
From Slate • Apr. 2, 2026
“This decision reflects progress in the joint efforts between our two countries to promote stability, support economic recovery and advance political reconciliation in Venezuela,” White House spokeswoman Anna Kelly said in a statement.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 1, 2026
There’s a fork in the trail and I have to make a decision.
From "Clairboyance" by Kristiana Kahakauwila
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
