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

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.

Videogames, with their virtual worlds and continuous decision-making, were one promising avenue.

From MarketWatch • May 23, 2026

"I haven't been part of the process, the conversation, the planning or decision-making so I can't comment on that," the 24-time major champion said.

From BBC • May 22, 2026

Ubisoft is hoping the new structure will help it reduce complexity and streamline decision-making.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 20, 2026

More than a year after the deadly Eaton fire swept through Altadena, killing 19 people, a new, outside review of firefighters’ decision-making concluded “there was no failure” by L.A.

From Los Angeles Times • May 19, 2026

But the May 31 meeting was the first time that the idea of a demonstration was placed before a decision-making body of the US government.

From "Big Science" by Michael Hiltzik

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