decision tree

American  

noun

Logic.

1. a tree diagram in which the selection of each branch requires that some type of logical decision be made.

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decision tree British  

noun

1. a treelike diagram illustrating the choices available to a decision maker, each possible decision and its estimated outcome being shown as a separate branch of the tree

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Other Word Forms

• decision-tree adjective

Etymology

Origin of decision tree

First recorded in 1965–70

Example Sentences

Many companies have handed the task of answering phones to an automated decision tree, bringing in the human operator only to troubleshoot.

From New York Times • Jun. 10, 2023

“You end up funding things like The American Independent and Courier and PushBlack at the end of a long decision tree, where you are looking for ways to fight disinformation,” Mehlhorn said.

From Washington Post • Oct. 14, 2022

When he was diagnosed in his senior year in college, he drafted a decision tree of the possible tests, complications, outcomes and medications.

From Scientific American • Sep. 20, 2021

Bari hopes a reliable decision tree will help guide healthcare workers in countries such as his native Morocco, where hospitals are expected to be overwhelmed in the pandemic.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 7, 2020

Goldman worked on his decision tree for years, steadily refining and perfecting it.

From "Blink" by Malcolm Gladwell